Localised Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in a cat in Australia.
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.
Elsner
Lisa
L
Longford Veterinary Centre, Sale, Victoria, Australia.
Wayne
Julie
J
O'Brien
Carolyn R
CR
McCowan
Christina
C
Malik
Richard
R
Hayman
John A
JA
Globan
Maria
M
Lavender
Caroline J
CJ
Fyfe
Janet A
JA
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
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin