Definition of Mycobacterium

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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.