Pulmonary infection due to the dassie bacillus (Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex sp.) in a free-living dassie (rock hyrax-Procavia capensis) from South Africa.
We report a case of extensive necrogranulomatous pneumonia due to infection with the dassie bacillus (Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex sp.) in a free-living pregnant adult female dassie (rock hyrax-Procavia capensis). A juvenile female dassie from the same colony also showed a focal lesion in the lungs suggestive of mycobacterial pneumonia. Our findings indicate the widespread occurrence of the dassie bacillus in free-living dassies and suggest very high infection rates in some populations. The introduction of South African dassies into novel environments should be considered in this light.
Parsons
Sven
S
DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research/MRC Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology/Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
Smith
Sarah G D
SG
Martins
Quinton
Q
Horsnell
William G C
WG
Gous
Tertius A
TA
Streicher
Elizabeth M
EM
Warren
Robin M
RM
van Helden
Paul D
PD
Gey van Pittius
Nicolaas C
NC
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D007043:Hyraxes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013019:South Africa; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*