title: Isolation and molecular characterization of Mycobacterium bovis causing pulmonary tuberculosis and epistaxis in a Thoroughbred horse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is very uncommon in horses worldwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study, an eight-year-old male Thoroughbred in good body condition was admitted to the Equine Clinic at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital in 2005 due to bilateral epistaxis accompanied by coughing. Routine examinations were conducted to determine the cause of the condition. Endoscopic examination revealed the major source of the epistaxis as the trachea, whereas thoracic radiography indicated the presence of a primary pulmonary mass. M. bovis was isolated from a broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) sample collected. The pulmonary mass reduced in size three months later following an oral administration of enrofloxacin (7.5 mg/kg PO SID). Genetic fingerprinting by spoligotyping identified the M. bovis isolate as spoligotype SB0868 strain. This M. bovis strain type was never described previously in South Africa (SA). This is the first case of M. bovis infection in a horse in SA which has been fully documented including clinical findings, isolation and genetic characterisation of the causative pathogen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report indicates that horses may contract and harbour M. bovis despite their lower susceptibility compared to other domestic animals. It also suggests that the infection may be more easily contained and eliminated from the host.
authors: Zoonotic Diseases Section, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Soutpan Rd., Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa. HlokweT@arc.agric.za.|Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Soutpan Rd., Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa. HlokweT@arc.agric.za.
authors: Tiny Motlatso
authors: TM
authors: Hlokwe
authors: Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Soutpan Rd., Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.|The Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Sutton
authors: Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Soutpan Rd., Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Page
authors: Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Soutpan Rd., Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
authors: Anita Luise
authors: AL
authors: Michel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D000077422:Enrofloxacin; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000662:veterinary; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D000077422:Enrofloxacin
keywords: Epistaxis; Equine; Respiratory; Zoonosis