Differentiation from other slowly growing mycobacteria by its fastidious growth.
Closely related to M. simiae by evaluation of 16S rDNA sequences.
Pathogenesis
Opportunistic pathogen. Clinically indistinguishable from generalised infections in patients with AIDS due to M. avium complex strains, but more related to gastro-intestinal disorders.
Most common cause of mycobacterial disease in parrots and parakeets.