title: Evidence of disseminated infection by Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis in a pet ferret (Mustela putorius furo).
abstract: The infection caused by the zoonotic opportunistic pathogen Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (Mah) was reported for the first time in a pet ferret. Both owners were HIV-positive. Euthanasia of the pet was recommended due to medical reasons and as a preventive action. Disseminated and open tuberculosis lesions were observed in the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems of the ferret. Ecographic and radiographic surveys showed a severe generalized lymphadenopathy, strong thickening of the gastric wall and peritoneum layer. The histopathological findings revealed a disseminated, granulomatous, chronic inflammation affecting the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, lymphoid tissues (spleen, tonsils and lymph nodes) and liver. Ziehl-Neelsen staining displayed the presence of positive acid-fast bacilli within these granulomas. Bacteriology and sequencing of the isolates yielded Mah sequevar code 3. Ferrets can act as reservoirs of mycobacteria exposing their owners to the infection, which is of major concern in immunodeficient individuals, as those HIV-infected.
authors.affiliation: MAEVA SERVET, S.L., Alameda del Valle, Madrid, Spain; VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jbezosga@visavet.ucm.es.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bezos
authors.affiliation: Centro Veterinario Camaleo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Álvarez-Carrión
authors.affiliation: VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Bertos
authors.affiliation: VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Fernández-Manzano
authors.affiliation: VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Juan
authors.affiliation: Idexx Laboratories, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huguet
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Briones
authors.affiliation: VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005289:Ferrets / Q000382:microbiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D057805:Pets; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Disseminated infection; Ferret; Mycobacteria; Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis; Pet