Gerber, K., Worth, D., Iveson, A., and Hargreaves, J. (2009) Disseminated Mycobacterium avium in a young Basset Hound located in a suburban area in the United Kingdom. European Journal Companion Animal Practice, 19 (1).

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Abstract

The prevalence of generalized Mycobacterium avium infection in dogs is believed to be low, as this species is innately resistant to infection. Publications in peer reviewed journals of M. avium in dogs are scarse. The majority of published cases in recent literature originated in the United States. This represents the first published case of M. avium in the UK and speculates that there may be an increased incidence of this sub species of Mycobacteria. A ten month old, female, neutered, Basset Hound was presented for lethargy, later accompanied by diarrhoea and anorexia. Clinical examination identified pyrexia and multicentric lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspiration and biopsy of a lymph node was performed. The aspirate identified evidence of pyogranulomatous inflammation with a myriad of intracytoplasmic non- staining slender rod-like structures in the macrophages on Wright’s stain. These proved to be acid fast on Ziehl-Nielsen stain. Histology results on the initial biopsy were consistent with cellulitis. Elective euthanasia was performed on the bases of a potential zoonosis and the poor response of mycobacteria to therapy in dogs. Histological lesions on all post mortem tissue samples demonstrated diffuse pyogranulomatous inflammation with acid-fast bacterial rods within the macrophages. Bacterial culture confirmed the presence of M. avium. A Polymerase chain reaction assay that targets the mycobacterium genus sequence within the 16S rRNA gene with specific primers for M. avium was positive and primers for the M. tuberculosis complex were negative. This was confirmed using the Genotype® CM kit (Hain Life science). Cytology using Wright’s stain followed by confirmation with Ziehl – Nielsen stain is a valuable tool in the preliminary diagnosis of mycobacteriosus in dogs as clinical signs are often vague and non-specific. The incidence of Mycobacterium avium in humans and dogs particularly in immunocompromised individuals may be increasing and veterinary practitioners should be aware of this trend.

Item ID:	77933
Item Type:	Article (Scholarly Work)
ISSN:	1018-2357
Keywords:	Mycobacterium avium, Basset Hound, United Kingdom, lymphadenopathy, cytology, PCR, culture
Date Deposited:	28 Mar 2023 00:53
FoR Codes:	30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3009 Veterinary sciences > 300910 Veterinary pathology @ 100%
SEO Codes:	28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280101 Expanding knowledge in the agricultural, food and veterinary sciences @ 100%
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