Category: M

Species associated with enteritis in cattle and sheep. Slow, difficult growth is aided by including in the egg medium sterilized bacillary masses of other mycobacteria such as phlei.  

Vole-infecting mycobacterium; a slow grower of irregular morphology. Antigenic properties similar to those of tuberculosis and has been used to immunize against both the latter and bovis.

Photochromic, fish-infecting species of tropical origin, rapid grower at 37°C. Transmissible to man, especially to handlers of tropical fish. An atypical mycobacterium that thrives in water, and produces skin infection resembling sporotrichosis. It is the cause of swimming pool granuloma.  

Causative organism of leprosy. Less acid-fast then tuberculosis. Not so far cultivated successfully, and not transmissible to animals. Diagnosis is by demonstrating the bacilli in stained preparations of nasal mucus, skin, etc., using 5 per cent sulphuric acid instead of the 20 per cent solution normally employed in the Ziehl-Neelsen method.  

Slow growing, mesophilic, photochromogenic species which is frequently associated with definite pulmonary infection.  

Non-pigmented, rapidly growing mesophilic mycobacterium the infective role of which is variable. Ubiquitous in distribution. A microscopic germ that normally exists in tap water in small numbers.  

The causative organism of bovine tuberculosis, infective also to man (lungs, joints, intestines). Slow growing (‘dysgonic’) compared with tuberculosis, and glycerin no aid to growth. Non- pigmented, growth aided by pyruvate, very pathogenic to rabbit. The organism that causes tuberculosis in cows and, less commonly, in humans.  

Rapid growing mesophilic photochromogen apparently identical with marinum, but found in temperate waters, especially swimming baths. First isolates grow best at 33°C.  

Species normally infecting fowls but occasionally transmitted to man. Higher optimum growth temperature (40-44°C) than Myco. tuberculosis. Non-pigmented.  

The power of true directional movement (as opposed to Brownian movement) in micro-organisms, conferred by flagella in many species, and by bodily flexion in the case of the spirochaetes.