Author:
Walker Stephen L.,Phillips Richard O.
Abstract
Abstract
The genus
Mycobacterium
contains more than 190 species of which over 25 are pathogenic in humans and other vertebrates. The most important obligate human pathogens are
M. tuberculosis
and
M. leprae
, but others such as
M. avium
complex (
M. avium
and
M. intracellulare
) and
M. ulcerans
are also significant. Disease‐causing mycobacteria other than those of the
M. tuberculosis
complex (including
M. tuberculosis
,
M. bovis
,
M. bovis
bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) and related species) and
M. leprae
are referred to as non‐tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), although the terms atypical, environmental or opportunistic mycobacteria are also used. This chapter will deal first with the general properties and characteristics of the mycobacteria, before discussing tuberculosis and highlighting aspects such as lupus vulgaris and tuberculids. Due to emergence and interest in NTMs, this section is substantially updated.