Mycobacterium genavenseinfection in two aged ferrets with conjunctival lesions

Abstract

Mycobacterium genavense infection was diagnosed in two adult ferrets. Disseminated mycobacteriosis was diagnosed in a castrated 5-year-old sable ferret with generalised peripheral lymph node enlargement and a proliferative lesion of the conjunctiva of the nictitating membrane. The diagnosis was based on characteristic cytology and sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene amplified using the polymerase chain reaction from fresh biopsy material. Therapy with rifampicin, clofazimine and clarithromycin probably cured the infection. An entire 4-year-old female ferret with conjunctival swelling, serous ocular discharge and swelling of the subcutaneous tissues of the nasal bridge was diagnosed as having M genavense infection on the basis of typical cytology, histopathology and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA amplicons from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. This patient was treated successfully using rifampicin. Both ferrets subsequently died as a result of other disease conditions, 10 and 4 months following initiation of therapy, respectively. This is the first report documenting M genavense as a cause of disseminated mycobacterial disease in ferrets. Conjunctival involvement may be a feature of disseminated mycobacteriosis in the ferret. The possibility that these infections were the consequence of a ferret retrovirus infection should be considered further.

Granulomatous Pneumonia Caused by Mycobacterium genavense in a Dwarf Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

“…A M. genavense infection is described in the literature as a disseminated mycobacteriosis in humans and animals with granulomatous inflammation of several organs (intestine, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, skin, kidneys, lungs, and brain). 2,3,[7][8][9][10][11]13,14,[16][17][18] However, the lungs were the only affected organs in our case, whereas the abdominal organs and lymphatic tissues were without pathologic findings, consistent with M. genavense infection. Besides disseminated forms of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, exclusively chronic pulmonary infections are described, commonly associated with M. kansasii or M. xenopi.…”

Lymphoma andMycobacterium AviumInfection in a Ferret (Mustela Putorius Furo)

“…1,12 Immunosuppression has been implicated as a cause of some mycobacterial infections in ferrets. 8 The lymphoma in this case could have caused immunosuppression, thus predisposing the ferret to mycobacterial infection.…”

“…2,7 Ferrets are susceptible to a variety of different mycobacterial infections, and the most commonly reported infections are caused by Mycobacterium bovis and M. avium. 1,5,8,12,13 Mycobacterial infections typically are thought to result from eating contaminated feed. 1,12 A 6-year-old, neutered male ferret presented to the veterinarian with weight loss.…”

“…8,9,[12][13][14] Mycobacterium bovis is probably the most important cause of mycobacteriosis in ferrets, and ferrets appear to be less susceptible to M. avium than to M. bovis.…”

Cytologic Diagnosis of Diseases of Ferrets

“…Clinical signs include weight loss, anorexia, hepatosplenomegaly, intestinal nodules, abdominal lymphadenopathy, and localized lesions [11]. Two adult ferrets with infection with Mycobacterium genavense presented with generalized peripheral lymphadenopathy and conjunctival swelling caused by granulomatous inflammation [12]. Smears prepared from aspiration of lesions caused by mycobacterial infection usually contain a predominance of large macrophages that resemble epithelial cells (epithelioid macrophages) and variable numbers of multinucleate giant cells and neutrophils.…”