Effect of Oxygen on Growth of Mycobacterium ulcerans in the BACTEC System

The effect of low oxygen concentration on the growth of 15 strains of Mycobacterium ulcerans was evaluated in the BACTEC system. Reduced oxygen tension enhanced the growth of M. ulcerans, suggesting that this organism has a preference for microaerobic environments. Application of this observation may improve rates of isolation of M. ulcerans in primary culture from clinical samples and promote isolation of the bacterium from environmental sources.