Enzymatic profile of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare

The characterization of extracellular enzymatic activities of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare which were identified by DNA probe (Gen-Probe, Cal., USA) was carried out using the API ZYM system (API, La Balme Les Grottes, France). The enzymatic activities of M. avium were attributed to esterase (C4), esterase lipase (C8), leucin arylamidase, acid phosphatase and phosphoamidase. Enzymatic characterization of M. intracellulare was very similar to that of M. avium. However, M. intracellulare differed from M. avium in the following two points: (i) Alkaline phosphatase activity was demonstrated, (ii) Acid phosphatase activity was much stronger.