Investigation and diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis in a captive herd of aoudad (Ammotragus lervia)

• Published in: Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine Vol. 40; no. 2; p. 306
• Main Authors: Portas, Timothy J, Bryant, Benn R, Jones, Stephen L, Humphreys, Kaye, Gilpin, Christopher M, Rose, Karrie A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2009
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Zoo - microbiology; Cattle; Female; Male; Mycobacterium - classification; Mycobacterium - isolation & purification; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis - classification; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis - isolation & purification; Mycobacterium bovis - classification; Mycobacterium bovis - isolation & purification; Mycobacterium Infections - diagnosis; Mycobacterium Infections - epidemiology; Mycobacterium Infections - microbiology; Mycobacterium Infections - veterinary; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - classification; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - isolation & purification; New South Wales - epidemiology; Paratuberculosis - diagnosis; Paratuberculosis - epidemiology; Paratuberculosis - microbiology; Ruminants - microbiology; Tuberculosis - diagnosis; Tuberculosis - epidemiology; Tuberculosis - microbiology; Tuberculosis - veterinary; Tuberculosis, Bovine - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Bovine - epidemiology; Tuberculosis, Bovine - microbiology; New South Wales
• ISSN: 1042-7260
• DOI: 10.1638/2008-0103.1

An epizootic of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis occurred in a captive herd of aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) over a period of 18 mo. Each of the affected animals was subject to a thorough postmortem examination that included histopathology, tissue concentration and acid-fast staining, aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture, mycobacterial culture, and real-time polymerase chain reaction specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA. Histopathologic lesions consistent with pulmonary mycobacteriosis, including the presence of acid-fast bacteria, were identified in two captive adult male aoudad. M. avium was isolated in culture from the pulmonary parenchyma, and M. parafortuitum was isolated from a mesenteric lymph node of a third animal, an adult female, euthanized subsequent to an illness characterized by progressive dyspnea and tachypnea. M. intracellulare was isolated within the bronchial lymph node of a fourth aoudad, an adult female that was euthanized due to chronic weight loss. Diagnostic testing of the 34 individuals in the herd included collection of blood for an interferon-gamma assay, intradermal tuberculin testing, and radiometric fecal culture for M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. On the basis of this investigation, mycobacteriosis associated with M. bovis, M. tuberculosis, and/or M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis was ruled out and nontuberculous mycobacteriosis was confirmed in this herd.