Mycobacterium

A large family of bacteria that have unusually waxy cell walls that are resistant to digestion.

The mycobacteria includes:

• Mycobacterium avium — which causes tuberculosis-like illness in birds and immunodeficient people;
• Mycobacterium leprae — which causes leprosy;
• Mycobacterium marinum — which causes swimming pool granuloma;
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis — which causes tuberculosis; and
• Mycobacterium ulcerans — which causes Buruli ulcer.

The mycobacteria are acid-fast rod-shaped bacteria. They are usually slow-growing. Many are intracellular parasites.