mycobacteria

mycobacteria

[mī′kōbaktir′ē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, mykes + bakterion, small rod

acid-fast microorganisms belonging to the genus Mycobacterium. mycobacterial, adj.

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mycobacteria

members of the genus Mycobacterium.

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anonymous mycobacteria

see opportunist (atypical) mycobacteria (below).

nontubercular mycobacteria

see opportunist (atypical) mycobacteria (below).

opportunist (atypical) mycobacteria

saprophytic mycobacteria which may cause disease in animals. Included are M. chelonae, M. fortuitum, M. phlei, M. smegmatis. Called also anonymous and nontuberculous. See also runyon classification, opportunist mycobacterial granuloma.

rapid growing mycobacteria

a distinguishing characteristic used for classifying mycobacteria, based on growth rate in cultures. Rapid growth is defined as less than 7 days. This group includes the saprophytic or opportunist mycobacteria, only some of which are associated with disease.

slow growing mycobacteria

these mycobacteria take more than 7 days for the appearance of colonies. This group includes the tubercle bacilli, M. avium, M. bovis and M. tuberculosis, and many of the others pathogenic for animals and humans.