Nucleotide sequences hybridizing with the bacterial strains of the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex, their use as oligonucleotide primers and nucleic probes.

A nucleic acid sequence which specifically hybridizes with a genomic nucleic acid sequence of strains of the complex Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare selected from nucleotide sequence SEQ ID No 1, nucleotide sequence SEQ ID No 2, complementary sequences thereof, and sequences differing therefrom by the mutation, insertion, deletion or substitution of one or more bases, but does not hybridize with the nucleic acids of mycobacteria which do not belong to said complex. Fragments of the sequence may be used as primers for amplifying sequences which are specific for strains of the complex Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, and as nucleic probes which are specific for nucleic sequences of strains of the complex Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare. A method for detecting strains of the complex Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare in a biological sample, and a kit for implementing the method, are also provided.