A natural reservoir of an infectious agent is the specific environment in which the pathogenic organism lives and reproduces. Every organism has some type of reservoir outside the human body where it lives, without causing disease. The natural reservoir of aerobic actinomycetes is soil, water, and organic (decaying plant) material. The bacterium is typically found in the environment as a saprophyte.
The aerobic actinomycetes may be spread through traumatic inoculation or inhalation. Although these bacteria may be spread in other ways (e.g., through aerosolization, disturbing environmental or construction settings), the natural reservoir remains the same.
