Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New Mycobacterium infection found in skin lesions of three cats
By Appleyard, Greg D & Clark, Edward G·Published in Journal of clinical microbiology·2002·Department of Veterinary Pathology, Canada·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Histologic and genotypic characterization of a novel Mycobacterium species found in three cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Three cats from different areas in North America were found to have a rare skin infection caused by a newly identified type of bacteria called Mycobacterium visibilis. The cats had noticeable skin lesions, and tests showed large clusters of these bacteria in their tissues. This infection appears to be different from other known mycobacterial diseases, suggesting it may be a new form of illness in cats. While the specific treatment for this infection wasn't detailed, early identification and appropriate veterinary care are crucial for managing such unusual cases.
People also search for: cat skin infection · mycobacterium in cats · unusual cat disease · cat skin lesions treatment
Abstract
Three cases of feline atypical mycobacteriosis from different geographical regions in North America were characterized by large clusters of filamentous bacteria visible on hematoxylin-and-eosin-stained tissue sections. PCR amplification demonstrated the presence of Mycobacterium-specific nucleic acid in samples of skin lesions from these cases. PCR-assisted cloning and DNA sequence analysis of a 541-bp length of the Mycobacterium 16S rRNA gene generated DNA sequences which were >95% identical, suggesting that the three isolates were closely related. Two of the sequences were 99% identical and may represent the same species. Alignment with comparable 16S rRNA gene sequences from 66 Mycobacterium species and partially characterized isolates highlighted similarities (>94%) with Mycobacterium bohemicum, Mycobacterium haemophilum, Mycobacterium ulcerans, Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium, and isolate IWGMT 90242. Parsimony analysis of sequence data suggested relatedness to M. leprae. Significant molecular genetic and pathobiological differences between these three similar isolates and other known species of mycobacteria suggested that the organisms may not have been described previously and that these cases may represent a new form of mycobacterial disease in cats. We suggest the term "Mycobacterium visibilis" to describe the organism from which the two nearly identical sequences were obtained.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12089257/