Mycobacterium gilvum

Mycobacterium gilvum

Etymology: gilvum, Latin for pale yellow.

Description
Pleomorphic gram-positive, nonmotile and acid-fast rods.

Colony characteristics
 * Pale yellow, Scotochromogenic, and smooth pleomorphic colonies.

Physiology
 * Rapid growth on Löwenstein-Jensen medium at 25°C and 37°C, but not at 45°C, within 7 days.
 * Resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, and sodium aminosalicylate.

Differential characteristics
 * 5 species-specific antigens, demonstrable in immunodiffusion tests.

Pathogenesis

 * Not assumed to be pathogenic
 * Biosafety level 1

Type Strain
First isolated from sputum and pleura fluid (London). Strain ATCC 43909 = CCUG 37676 = CIP 106743 = DSM 44503 = JCM 6395 = NCTC 10742.