Epidemiologic investigation of Mycobacterium bovis in a population of cats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether cats exposed at a residence were infected with Mycobacterium bovis, whether the tuberculin skin test can identify cats infected with M bovis, and whether an ELISA could identify tuberculosis-infected cats.


METHODS
20 domestic cats exposed to a cat with laboratory-confirmed disseminated M bovis infection.


METHODS
Cats were administered a tuberculin skin test and monitored for 72 hours. Blood and fecal samples were collected. Cats were then euthanatized, and postmortem examinations were performed. Tissues were examined grossly and histologically for signs of mycobacteriosis. Pooled tissue samples and fecal samples were submitted for mycobacterial culture. Blood samples were examined for evidence of tuberculosis by use of a comparative ELISA.


RESULTS
4 cats had positive responses for the ELISA, and 2 cats had suspicious responses. All tuberculin skin tests yielded negative results. No gross or histologic lesions of tuberculosis were detected in any tissues, and mycobacteria were not isolated from tissues or feces obtained from the 20 cats.


CONCLUSIONS
All cats that had positive or suspicious responses for the ELISA were offspring of the cat with tuberculosis. Evidence of tuberculosis was not seen in other cats at the residence, the owner, or the attending veterinarian. The most likely source of tuberculosis for the infected cat was through the consumption of M bovis-infected wildlife carcasses or offal. Because M bovis is endemic in wildlife in northeastern Michigan, there is a risk of exposure to tuberculosis in companion animals, their owners, and attending veterinarians.
Kaneene
John B
JB
Population Medicine Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.
Bruning-Fann
Colleen S
CS
Dunn
John
J
Mullaney
Thomas P
TP
Berry
Dale
D
Massey
Jeffrey P
JP
Thoen
Charles O
CO
Halstead
Steven
S
Schwartz
Kathy
K
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000662:veterinary; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial