Comparison of four culture media for isolation of Mycobacterium avium complex from porcine tissues

Abstract
The efficiency of 4 culture media was compared for the isolation of M. avium complex from 197 porcine tissues. In 82 tissues with microscopic granulomas and acid-fast bacilli, a significantly greater number of isolates were obtained on Middlebrook 7H10 medium with sodium pyruvate than on Stonebrink medium, Herrold egg yolk agar medium or Lowenstein-Jensen medium (P = 0.01). In 46 tissues in which no microscopic granulomas or acid-fast bacilli were observed, a significantly greater number of isolates were made on Middlebrook 7H10 medium or Herrold egg yolk agar medium than on Stonebrink medium or on Lowenstein-Jensen medium (P = 0.01). The time required to grow M. avium complex on Lowenstein-Jensen medium was significantly greater than the time required to observe growth on Stonebrink, Middlebrook 7H10 or Herrold egg yolk agar medium (P = 0.001).