Name: Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum Thorel et al. 1990

Category: Subspecies

Proposed as: subsp. nov.

Etymology: sil.va’ti.cum. L. neut. adj. silvaticum, of or belonging to a wood or to trees

Pronunciation, gender: sil-WA-ti-kum, neuter

Type strain: 6409; ATCC 49884; CCUG 47446; CIP 103317; DSM 44175

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: EF521891 Analyse FASTA

Valid publication: Thorel MF, Krichevsky M, Levy-Frebault VV. Numerical taxonomy of mycobactin-dependent mycobacteria, emended description of Mycobacterium avium, and description of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium subsp. nov., Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis subsp. nov., and Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum subsp. nov. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1990; 40:254-260.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: correct name (and explicitly recommended for medical use)

Risk group: 2

• Notes:
  • 😷 The risk group for Belgium has been imported on 2024-02-05. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "human and animal pathogen - human risk group: 2 - animal risk group: 3 - biological class of risk animal: 3". — The risk group for Canada has been imported on 2024-02-27. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "Animal classification RG: 2 - Security sensitive biological agent: No - Terrestrial animal pathogen under Canadian Food Inspection Agency authority: No - Containment level: Containment Level 2". — The risk group for Swiss Confederation has been imported on 2024-02-01. The full classification is: risk group = 2. — The risk group for Germany has been imported on 2023-10-29. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "ht". — The risk group for United Kingdom has been imported on 2024-01-31. The full classification is: risk group = 2. — If in doubt, use the risk group given in the regulations for your country and, if these are not available, use the risk group given in the catalogue of the culture collection from which you have obtained or intend to obtain the strain.
  • 🙆 This name is on the List of Recommended Names for bacteria of medical importance (LoRN) as the name to be applied to this subspecies. The name is on LoRN because of the recorded risk group of the species itself.
  • 🧍 Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum Thorel et al. 1990 was previously known as Mycobacterium avium strains wood pigeon. Publication: Chester FD. A Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. The MacMillan Co., New York, 1901.

Parent taxon: Mycobacterium avium Chester 1901 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Thorel MF, Krichevsky M, Levy-Frebault VV. Numerical taxonomy of mycobactin-dependent mycobacteria, emended description of Mycobacterium avium, and description of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium subsp. nov., Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis subsp. nov., and Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum subsp. nov. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1990; 40:254-260.

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Record number: 778401