a highly variable communicable disease of humans and some other vertebrates that is caused by the tubercle bacillus and rarely in the U.S. by a related mycobacterium (Mycobacterium bovis), that affect, infectious disease affecting all groups of vertebrates, including domesticated animals and humans, caused by some bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. avium) and characte, inimese ja loomade pikaldase kuluga nakkushaigus, mida põhjustab tuberkuloosibakter (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)