Mycobacterium bovis is selectively inhibited by T2H, a key characteristic by which it can be separated from M. tuberculosis. As part of the M. tuberculosis complex, approximately 30% of M. bovis strains may slowly accumulate niacin; therefore, this is not a differential characteristic. Neither species uptake iron from culture media, a test that distinguishes Mycobacterium fortuitum from all other Mycobacterium species. The semiquantitative catalase reaction is negative for both organisms; therefore, this is not a distinguishing characteristic.
a) True
b) False