This report describes the clinical features and molecular diagnosis of a case of canine leproid granuloma (CLG) caused by mycobacterial strains of the Mycobacterium simiae complex in Brazil. A 12-year-old non-neutered male Labrador Retriever dog was presented with a 2-week history of progressive painless cutaneous lesions. Ulcerated nodules with hematic crusts were observed on the dorsal surface of the right and left pinna and on the metacarpal, metatarsal, and digits. Complete blood count, serum biochemistry, aspiration cytology of cutaneous lesions, biopsy for histopathological evaluation, culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing to identify mycobacterial species were performed. According to the clinical and histopathological findings, a diagnosis of CLG was established. Despite the negative result of the bacterial culture, mycobacterial identification was made by sequencing the hsp65 gene. Our findings highlight that mycobacterial species closely related to members of the M simiae clade can be causative agents of CLG.
Keywords: Hsp65 gene; canine leprosy; cutaneous granulomas; dermatitis; nontuberculous mycobacteria.
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