FIG 3.

Flow chart for the recommended mycobacterial strain characterization with special emphasis on Mycobacterium avium subspecies identification. The steps of the potential Mycobacterium avium complex subspecies-level identification method are presented in the flow chart. Abbreviations: MTC, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex; MAC, Mycobacterium avium complex; MI, Mycobacterium intracellulare; M., Mycobacterium; MAP, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis; MAH, “Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis”; MAA, Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium; MAS, Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum.