[The role of Mycobacterium bovis in epidemiology of tuberculosis]

After a short review of opinions concerning the role of Mycobacterium bovis in tuberculosis of men in the past and of earlier findings in German Democratic Republic, the results of species determination of mycobacteria from 5210 patients living in the capital Berlin and in the districts of Frankfurt/oder, Neubrandenberg, Potsdam and Rostock - obtained between 1975 and 1980 -, are presented. In children, tuberculosis has generally practically disappeared, and thus disease due to Mycobacterium bovis too. In adults, the proportion of diseases caused by Mycobacterium bovis did not yet decrease, in spite of eradication of tuberculosis in cattle obtained 10 years ago. In the rural districts, pulmonary tuberculosis in males is caused in between 4.6 and 9% by Mycobacterium bovis (highest value in one age group 15.8%). Obviously, there is a long latent period between termination of exposition and disappearance of disease by Mycobacterium bovis in human beings.