This paper provides a summary of salient clinical and epidemiological featu
res of selected mycobacterial diseases that are common to humans and other
animals. Clinical and diagnostic issues are discussed and related to estima
tes of the incidence and prevalence of these diseases among humans. Source
of infection, route of transmission and control measures are also presented
. The mycobacteria discussed in this paper are Mycobacterium bovis, M. ulce
rans, M. leprae and M. avium complex, although this is by no means a comple
te list of the mycobacteria common to humans and other animals. Certain gen
eralities can be made regarding these species of mycobacteria and their occ
urrence in humans and other animals; firstly, current understanding of the
epidemiology and control of many of the resultant diseases is incomplete; s
econdly, environmental sources other than animal reservoirs may play a role
in transmission (with M. leprae perhaps being the exception); and thirdly,
the incidence and prevalence of these diseases in many countries of the wo
rld are unclear, principally because of the complexity of diagnosis and lac
k of reporting systems.