Cutaneous atypical mycobacteriosis in a clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

J Zoo Wildl Med. 2013 Sep;44(3):756-60. doi: 10.1638/2012-0166R1.1.

Abstract

A 16-yr-old male clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) was presented for lethargy and anorexia. A cutaneous abdominal mass extending from the pubis to just caudal to the xiphoid process was present. A biopsy revealed histologic lesions consistent with an atypical mycobacterial infection consisting of diffuse, severe, pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis, with clear vacuoles and 3-5 microm, intravacuolar, faintly eosinophilic, filamentous bacilli that stained positively with FiteFaraco modified acid-fast stain. The clouded leopard had biochemical findings suggestive of chronic renal failure and euthanasia was elected. Histological evaluation of tissues collected at postmortem examination revealed multicentric B-cell lymphoma involving the oral cavity, liver, spleen, and multiple lymph nodes, bilateral testicular seminomas, thyroid follicular cell adenoma, thyroid C cell adenoma, and biliary cystadenomas. Bacterial culture and molecular sequencing identified the causative agent of the cutaneous abdominal mass as belonging to the Mycobacterium fortuitum group.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Felidae*
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / pathology
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / veterinary*
  • Mycobacterium fortuitum
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / pathology
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / veterinary*