title: Mycobacterium microti infection in the cat: a case report, literature review and recent clinical experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycobacterium microti infection is infrequently described in cats in the veterinary literature. It can be one of a large number of possible differential diagnoses in a feline patient with dermal nodules and non-healing draining ulcers, and can occasionally spread to involve the lungs and/or other areas of the body.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report describes the clinical signs, eventual diagnosis and variable response to treatment in a cat in Switzerland with recurrent cutaneous M microti infection. Only after several diagnostic and therapeutic attempts, over more than 2 years, was the species of Mycobacterium finally identified and targeted therapy given.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  For any cat in which there is even a low suspicion of mycobacterial infection, the authors recommend that an aggressive diagnostic approach is taken. Tissue specimens should be collected and frozen early on, and, as soon as acid-fast bacilli are detected, samples should be sent to a mycobacterial reference laboratory for definitive identification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the literature relating to the aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management of M microti infection in cats and dogs is included. This is supplemented with clinical and therapeutic experience gained from this case and other, unpublished cases managed over the past 15 years by one of the authors (DGM).
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland. s.ruefenacht@dermavet.ch
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rüfenacht
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bögli-Stuber
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bodmer
authors.forename: Valérie F Bornand
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Jaunin
authors.forename: Danielle C Gonin
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jmaa
authors.forename: Danièlle A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gunn-Moore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*