Effect of Ultraviolet Irradiation on the Acidfastness of Uneasily Culturable and Unculturable Mycobacteria

Effect of ultraviolet irradiation on the acidfastness of uneasily culturable Mycobacteria, M. paratuberculosis, and unculturable Mycobacteria, M. leprae and M. lepraemurium, was investigased. The results clearly demonstrated that M. paratuberculosis is a little stronger in acidfastness than tubercle bacilli, and that M. leprae and M. lepraemurium are far stronger than the latter requiring twice as much UV irradiation time as the latter for the 50% loss of acidfastness. Putting together the evidences hitherto obtained, an acidfastness map was designed. Further, very simple method to differentiate some mycobacterial strains from others by the acidfast staining was devised.