Developed from the expert workshop held in Guildford, UK on 18-20 Sept., 2002 by the World Health Organization's Water, Sanitation and Health Office in collaboration with the US EPA Office of Research and Development. "Published on behalf of the World Health Organization."--Title page verso. Includes bibliographical references (pages 179-227) and index.

Introduction -- Natural ecology and survival in water of mycobacteria of potential public health significance -- Environmental sources of Mycobacterium avium linked to routes of exposure -- Biology of waterborne pathogenic mycobacteria -- Analytical methods for the detection of waterborne and environmental pathogenic mycobacteria -- The Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis problem and its relation to the causation of Crohn disease -- Disseminated infection, cervical adenitis and other MAC infections -- Skin, bone and soft tissue infections -- Pulmonary infection in non-HIV infected individuals -- Disease resulting from contaminated equipment and invasive procedures -- Control, treatment and disinfection of Mycobacterium avium complex in drinking water -- Approaches to risk management in priority setting -- References -- Index. Describes the current knowledge of the distribution of PEM in water and other parts of the environment. The routes of transmission that lead to human infection are discussed and there is a detailed analysis of the most significant disease symptoms that can foloow infections. The classical and modern methods of analysis are described. The book concludes with a discussion of the issues surrounding the control of PEM in drinking-water and the assessment and management of risks.