Abstract

Mycobacterium is one of the first infectious agents to spring to mind in connection with chronic or persistent infections. The causative organism of bovine tuberculosis is Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), which includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), M. bovis, Mycobacterium africanum (M. africanum), Mycobacterium microti (M. microti), Mycobacterium canetti (M. canetti), Mycobacterium caprae (M. caprae) and Mycobacterium pinnipedii (M. pinnipedii), and many of the species and subspecies of MTBC show specific host association. Immunity against mycobacteria is multifactorial and it is believed that the host innate immunity provides initial resistance to mycobacteria before the adaptive cell-mediated immunity fully develops. There are still many unsolved problems associated with the pathogenesis and immune response to tuberculosis. Therefore multi-disciplinary approach to develop more complete understanding of the pathogenic strategies is mandatory. Special consideration to bovine tuberculosis might help scientists to devise proper mechanisms to prevent human tuberculosis as they are closely related.

Key words: Granuloma, immune evasion, immunity, mycobacteria, pathogenesis.