[Specific features of Mycobacteria isolated from patients and animals with tuberculosis and from environmental...

Two hundred samples from environmental objects, such as soil, manure, water, feeds, et.), 129 isolates from tuberculosis patients' sputum, and 222 samples from tuberculin-responsive animals were studied. Mycobacteria of atypical forms were found to be widely distributed in the environment. The causative agents of bovine-type tuberculosis could be isolated from both tuberculin-responsive animals and environmental objects of tuberculosis-burdened firms. The cultural morphological and biochemical properties were studied in 129 isolates from tuberculosis patients' sputum. Of them, 91 (75.8%) and 29 (24.2%) samples were defined as M. tuberculosis and M. bovis, respectively. Nine samples could not be identified for different reasons.