Slowly growing Mycobacteria

Mycobacteria that form colonies clearly visible to the naked eye in more than 7 days on subculture are termed slow growers.

They can cause disease in humans. ^[1]

Nonchromogenic

Rough

• Mycobacterium africanum
• Mycobacterium bovis
• Mycobacterium leprae
• Mycobacterium lacus
• Mycobacterium lepraemurium
• Mycobacterium microti
• Mycobacterium pinnipedii
• Mycobacterium shottsii
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Smooth

• Mycobacterium branderi
• Mycobacterium heidelbergense
• Mycobacterium intracellulare
• Mycobacterium malmoense

Smooth to rough

• Mycobacterium gastri
• Mycobacterium haemophilum

Small and transparent

• Mycobacterium avium avium
• Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis
• Mycobacterium avium silvaticum
• Mycobacterium genavense
• Mycobacterium montefiorense
• Mycobacterium ulcerans

Photochromogenic

• Mycobacterium intermedium

Yellow and smooth

• Mycobacterium asiaticum
• Mycobacterium marinum

Yellow and rough

• Mycobacterium kansasii

Scotochromogenic

Yellow

• Mycobacterium conspicuum
• Mycobacterium botniense
• Mycobacterium farcinogenes
• Mycobacterium heckeshornense
• Mycobacterium interjectum
• Mycobacterium kubicae
• Mycobacterium lentiflavum
• Mycobacterium nebraskense
• Mycobacterium palustre
• Mycobacterium tusciae

Yellow-orange

• Mycobacterium cookii
• Mycobacterium flavescens
• Mycobacterium gordonae

Rose-pink

• Mycobacterium hiberniae

References

1. Sniezek, Patrick J.; Graham, Brad S.; Busch, Heidi Byers; Lederman, Edith R.; Lim, Matthew L.; Poggemyer, Kimberly; Kao, Annie; Mizrahi, Moise; Washabaugh, Gerry; Yakrus, Mitch; Winthrop, Kevin (May 2003). "Rapidly growing mycobacterial infections after pedicures". Arch Dermatol. 139 (5): 629–34. doi:10.1001/archderm.139.5.629. PMID   12756100.