title: Comparison of six methods for isolating mycobacteria from swine lymph nodes.
abstract: Six laboratory methods were compared for isolating acid-fast bacteria. Tuberculous lymph nodes from each of 48 swine as identified by federal meat inspectors were processed by each of the methods. Treated tissue suspensions were inoculated onto each of eight media which were observed at 7-day intervals for 9 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences between the number of Mycobacterium avium complex bacteria isolated by each of the six methods. Rapid tissue preparation methods involving treatment with 2% sodium hydroxide or treatment with 0.2% zephiran required only one-third to one-fourth the processing time as a standard method. There were small differences in the amount of contamination among the six methods, but no detectable differences in the time of first appearance of M. avium complex colonies.
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes; D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000592:standards; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008722:Methods; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010206:Papain; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D010206:Papain