Investigation and diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis in a captive herd of aoudad (Ammotragus lervia).
An epizootic of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis occurred in a captive herd of aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) over a period of 18 mo. Each of the affected animals was subject to a thorough postmortem examination that included histopathology, tissue concentration and acid-fast staining, aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture, mycobacterial culture, and real-time polymerase chain reaction specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA. Histopathologic lesions consistent with pulmonary mycobacteriosis, including the presence of acid-fast bacteria, were identified in two captive adult male aoudad. M. avium was isolated in culture from the pulmonary parenchyma, and M. parafortuitum was isolated from a mesenteric lymph node of a third animal, an adult female, euthanized subsequent to an illness characterized by progressive dyspnea and tachypnea. M. intracellulare was isolated within the bronchial lymph node of a fourth aoudad, an adult female that was euthanized due to chronic weight loss. Diagnostic testing of the 34 individuals in the herd included collection of blood for an interferon-gamma assay, intradermal tuberculin testing, and radiometric fecal culture for M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. On the basis of this investigation, mycobacteriosis associated with M. bovis, M. tuberculosis, and/or M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis was ruled out and nontuberculous mycobacteriosis was confirmed in this herd.
Portas
Timothy J
TJ
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Obley Road, Dubbo, New South Wales 2830, Australia. timp@wildlifewarriors.org.au
Bryant
Benn R
BR
Jones
Stephen L
SL
Humphreys
Kaye
K
Gilpin
Christopher M
CM
Rose
Karrie A
KA
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000382:microbiology; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012418:Ruminants / Q000382:microbiology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014380:Tuberculosis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology