title: Feline cutaneous mycobacteriosis: a review of clinical, pathological and molecular characterization of one case of Mycobacterium microti skin infection and nine cases of feline leprosy syndrome from France and New Caledonia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ten cats with skin lesions characteristic of cutaneous mycobacteriosis were included in this retrospective clinical, pathological and molecular study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify the causative agent and to compare the clinicopathological features of these cases with those of previous studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cats were from the south east of France (eight cases), central France (one case) and New Caledonia (South Pacific; one case). Criteria for inclusion were histological evidence of granulomatous dermatitis and/or panniculitis, with acid-fast bacilli within macrophages or extracellularly in regions of tissue necrosis. PCR targeting the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer region and sequence analysis were performed using DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cats were presented with a history of alopecic to ulcerated nodules. Most cases had limited disease, with one to few nodules, while others (three cats) showed a more aggressive clinical course. Lesions from eight cats yielded a sequence consistent with Mycobacterium lepraemurium, while Mycobacterium microti was identified postmortem from the cutaneous lesion in the cat originating from central France and euthanized for its debilitating condition. No PCR product could be amplified from the remaining specimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on this geographically restricted case series, feline leprosy in southern France is most likely to be caused by M. lepraemurium and presents as a generally self-limiting disease. Molecular testing is essential to assess zoonotic potential, because M. microti-induced cutaneous mycobacteriosis can resemble feline leprosy syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Vet-Histo, 11 bis bd Miremonts, 13008, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laprie
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duboy
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fyfe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D009510:New Caledonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents