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Mycobacteria and Disease in Southern Africa
Author(s) -
Botha L.,
Gey van Pittius N. C.,
Helden P. D.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.12159
Subject(s) - tuberculosis , disease , mycobacterium bovis , transmission (telecommunications) , mycobacterium , biology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , mycobacterium tuberculosis , immunology , medicine , pathology , electrical engineering , engineering
Summary The genus Mycobacterium consists of over 120 known species, some of which (e.g. M. bovis and M. tuberculosis ) contribute extensively to the burden of infectious disease in humans and animals, whilst others are commonly found in the environment but may rarely if ever be disease‐causing. This paper reviews the mycobacteria found in southern Africa, focussing on those in the M. tuberculosis complex as well as the non‐tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), identifying those found in the area and including those causing disease in humans and animals, and outlines some recent reports describing the distribution and prevalence of the disease in Africa. Difficulties in diagnosis, host preference and reaction, immunology and transmission are discussed.