Abstract: | A number of rapid-growing scotochromogenic mycobacteria were isolated from the sputum specimen of Rhodesian patients with pulmonary disease and recognized as a new species. This was given the name Mycobacterium rhodesiae sp. nov. A comparison between M. rhodesiae, M. parafortuitum, M. aurum and M. vaccae was done, and distinguishing characters serving for differentiation between these 4 species of rapid-growing scotochromogenic mycobacteria were described. |