title: Localised Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in a cat in Australia.
abstract: A 10-year-old castrated male domestic cat domiciled in eastern Victoria (Australia) was presented for a subcutaneous mass on its nasal bridge in November 2006. Cytological examination of an aspirate demonstrated pyogranulomatous inflammation. At surgery, the lesion consisted of an encapsulated mass containing viscid fluid. Histological examination of the resected lesion revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation surrounding a central zone of necrosis. Sections stained with the Ziehl-Neelsen method revealed numerous acid-fast bacilli, intracellularly within macrophages and extracellularly. Molecular studies established the infection was caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. As histology demonstrated that the infection extended to the margin of the excised tissues, the cat was treated subsequently with clarithromycin (62.5mg orally once daily for 7 days, then twice daily for 3 months). The surgical wound healed unremarkably. The infection has not recurred at the time of writing, 1 year following discontinuation of treatment. Although M ulcerans infections have been recorded in variety of mammals, this is the first known case in a cat.
authors.affiliation: Longford Veterinary Centre, Sale, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elsner
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wayne
authors.forename: Carolyn R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCowan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hayman
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Globan
authors.forename: Caroline J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lavender
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fyfe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin