Tuberculosis:

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is more commonly known as tuberculosis (http://www.cdc.gov/). There are several species of Mycobacterium but typically M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, and M. leprae are the three that will produce primary diseases in otherwise healthy humans (Aufderheide & Rodriguez-Martin 1998). Typically tuberculosis is passed from one individual to another when a person with active TB coughs and releases “bacilli-laden moisture droplets” into the air and they are inhaled. This is why tuberculois often times begins as a respiratory infection

(http://www.cdc.gov/search.do?action=search&queryText=Tuberculosis). Being in poorly ventilated areas will increase the likelihood of transmission, as does the length of exposure, and genetic or immunological susceptibility of the person exposed (Fortuine 2005). Only 5-10% of people infected with tuberculosis bacteria have an insufficient immunological response, or are genetically susceptible, develop the progressive disease known as tuberculosis (Fortuine 2005). Once the bacterium reaches the blood stream it can be carried to any organ in the body, although it seems to favor the lungs due to the high level of oxygen (Fortuine 2005).