The Ecology of Mycobacteria: Impact on Animal's and Human's Health
The Ecology of Mycobacteria principally emphasizes the ecological characteristics of the environmental mycobacteria. It is now well understood that the incidence and prevalence of potentially pathogenic mycobacteria is increasing in humans and animals. Fu
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indrich Kazda · Ivo Pavlik · Joseph O. Falkinham III · Karel Hruska Editors
The Ecology of Mycobacteria: Impact on Animal’s and Human’s Health
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Editors Prof. Jindrich Kazda Parkallee 39 23845 Borstel Germany [email protected]
Prof. Ivo Pavlik Veterinary Research Institute Hudcova 70 621 00 Brno Czech Republic [email protected]
Prof. Joseph O. Falkinham III Virginia Tech Dept. of Biological Sciences (MC 406) 2125 Derring Hall Blacksburg VA 24061-0406 USA [email protected]
Prof. Karel Hruska Veterinary Research Institute Hudcova 70 621 00 Brno Czech Republic [email protected]
ISBN 978-1-4020-9412-5 e-ISBN 978-1-4020-9413-2 DOI 10.1007/978-1-4020-9413-2 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2008940658 c Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Cover image: Mycobacteria (slightly bent, short rods) on the surface of hyalocytes in the grey layer of Sphognum magellanicum (Photo K. Muller) Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface to the Second Edition
A decade has passed since the primary literature sources were collected and the first edition of this book written. This period of time seems to be relatively short when one considers that mycobacteria were first reported 100 years ago. On the other hand, the known range of mycobacteria has been greatly extended in recent years. The introduction of molecular biology methods has brought about a remarkable burst in the description of new species. While about 70 mycobacterial species were registered at the time of the first edition, more than 130 of them are known at present. With the discovery of new mycobacterial species, the cases of human and animal immunocompetent and immunosuppressed hosts and the isolation of mycobacteria with the enzymatic potential to cause the degradation of aliphatic organic substances are increasing in numbers almost as rapidly. In order to be able to cover all of the most significant mycobacterial species, it was necessary to consider the ecology of mycobacteria as a discipline that would not only include the external environment but also the occurrence of mycobacteria in animal and human organisms, where interaction occurs. The environment is neither non-living nor static, but the very opposite. It undergoes periodic and other changes (seasons of the year, changing biotic and abiotic factors), while animal and human organisms have the static tendency towards a status quo ante. The classification of mycobacteria into respective disciplines such as epidemiology, epizootiology, immunology and environmental ecology did not contribute to a
