Serological Examination of Some Strains That Are in the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare-scrofulaceum Complex But Do Not Belong to Schaefer's Serotypes

One hundred strains belonging to the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare-scrofulaceum (MAIS) complex but not agglutinating with antisera type-specific for Schaefer's 23 MAIS serotypes were examined using antisera against seven other such strains. Four of the 100 strains were found to be of the same serotype as one of the 7 against which antisera were prepared; 4 other strains were of the same serotype as another of those against which antisera were prepared. Although the strains against which antisera were prepared were serologically distinct from each other, no strains serologically identical to 5 of them were found. This suggests that numerous serotypes might have to be defined if strains such as those examined are to be assigned to their respective serotypes.