Mycobacterium avium avium

'Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium' Type strain: strain ATCC 25291 = CCUG 20992 = CIP 104244 = DSM 44156 = NCTC 13034.

The subspecies name Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium Chester 1901 is automatically created by the valid publication of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Bergey et al. 1923) Thorel et al. 1990 and the valid publication of Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum Thorel et al. 1990.

Based on differences in IS1245 RFLP, 16S-23S rDNA ITS and growth temperature, Mijs et al. 2002 propose to reserve the designation Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium for bird-type isolates. These authors suggest, but not formally propose, the designation "Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis" for the isolates from humans and pigs.