title: Ulcerated and nonulcerated nontuberculous cutaneous mycobacterial granulomas in cats and dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycobacterial granulomas of the skin and subcutis can be caused by one of a number of pathogens. This review concentrates on noncultivable species that cause diseases characterized by focal granuloma(s), namely leproid granuloma (in dogs) and feline leprosy (in cats). Clinically indistinguishable lesions can be caused by tuberculous organisms (Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium microti) and members of the Mycobacterium avium complex. Rapidly growing mycobacterial species that cause infection of the subcutaneous panniculus associated with draining tracts are not discussed. Disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans is an important emerging differential diagnosis for ulcerated cutaneous nodules in certain localized regions. CLINICAL LESIONS: Lesions comprise one or multiple nodules in the skin/subcutis. These are generally firm and well circumscribed, and typically become denuded of hair. They may or may not ulcerate, depending on the virulence of the causal organisms and the immune response of the host.
  
  
  METHODS
  The most inexpensive, noninvasive means of diagnosis is by submission of methanol-fixed, Romanowsky-stained smears to a Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory after detecting negatively stained or acid-fast bacilli on cytological smears. Scrapings of material from slides usually provide sufficient mycobacterial DNA to enable identification of the causal organism using sequence analysis of amplicons after PCR using specific mycobacterial primers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapy relies upon a combination of marginal resection of easily accessible lesions and treatment using two or three drugs effective against slowly growing mycobacteria, choosing amongst rifampicin, clarithromycin, clofazimine and pradofloxacin/moxifloxacin.
authors: Centre for Veterinary Education, Conference Centre B22, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. richard.malik@sydney.edu.au
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Malik
authors: Bronwyn
authors: B
authors: Smits
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Reppas
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Laprie
authors: Carolyn
authors: C
authors: O'Brien
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Fyfe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D006099:Granuloma / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents