Mycobacterial Infections in Cats and Dogs
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Surveillance Vol.20 No.4 1993 Mycobacterial infections in cats and dogs Since 1974, Mycobacterium bovis has beeiz tion with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the cases in which the histological findings isolatedfrom threeferal and 73 domestic cats principal cause of tuberculosisin humans. were not confirmed by bacterial cultur- in New Zealand. In marked contrast, only Experimental infections have demon- ing. The location of cats from these cases two isolates of this bacterial species have been strated that cats are more resistant to M. is summarised in Table 1. Apart from obtainedfrom dogs in the last 12 years. tuberculosis than to M. bovis. Dogs are seven exceptions, the infected cats came In New Zealand, the failure to eradi- relatively resistant to tuberculosis, but from suburban and rural areas of New cate bovine tuberculosis from cattle and bothM. tuberculosis and M. bovis can both Zealand where M.bouis is also present in farmed deer is due to the presence of a induce a progressive infection in this host. the wildlife. In 1985/86 a cluster of 12 wildlife reservoir of infection. While pos- A number of surveys conducted prior to cases was diagnosed over a 3 month pe- sums (Trichosurusvulpecula) are the most 1950 reported that approximately 70% of riod by a Lower Hutt veterinary practice. important reservoir, infected feral pigs, the cases of tuberculosis in dogs were No further cases of Mhovis infected cats deer, goats, ferrets and cats have been caused by M. tuberculosis and 30-40% by have been diagnosed by this practice. found in New Zealand. This wildlife res- M. bovis.' Only one further case of M.bovis infection ervoir is a potential source of infection in a cat from the Hutt Valley has been for a wide range of domestic animals, diagnosed since 1986. In 1992 five cases Mycobacterium bo vis infections of tuberculosis were diagnosed in cats including cats and dogs. Tuberculosis in in cats cats and dogs was first recognised over- belonging to an owner resident in the Central North Island. The affected cats seas last Prior to the effective Mycobacterium bouis was isolated from had a combination of lesions in the me- control of tuberculosis in cattle or hu- diagnostic samples from 57 cats submit- mans 2-10% of cats and dogs in Europe ted to Animal Health Laboratories from senteric and head lymph nodes. were found to have tuberculosis.' The 1974 to 1986.3A further l9M.bouis-infect- All but three of the 76 M. bovis cases vast majority of the cases of tuberculosis ed cats have been identified between 1987 were domestic cats. Investigations are in in cats were caused by Mycobacterium and 1992. These figures are based on progress to determine the prevalence of bovis, with only a few cases due to infec- isolation of M. bouis and do not include M. bovis infection in feral cats and ferrets. 24 Surveillance 20(4) Surveillance Vol.20 No.4 1993 Preliminary results from these surveys careful consideration of the risks of in- thermoresistibile,8 Mycobacterium xenopig indicate the presence of M. bovis infected fecting owners must be given prior to and the agent of cat leprosy being found feral cats in both the North and South treating tuberculous cats. Some of the in chronic skin lesions of cats. Histopa- Islands of New Zealand. cases of tuberculosis in cats in the Hutt thology can give some indication of the The range of clinical signs and distri- Valley have been successfully treated causative mycobacterial species.'O For bution of the gross lesions are summa- using a combination of surgery and long example, skin lesions associated with M. rised in Tables 2 and 3. The most com- term antimicrobial the rap^.^ smegmatis and some cases of M.fortuitum7 mon clinical signs were non-healing skin are predominantly in the subcutaneous lesions and enlarged lymph nodes, espe- adipose tissue between the dermis and cially the submandibular lymph node. Cat leprosy the panniculus camosus. This type of Skin lesions were moist and did not have Cat leprosy is defined as a mycobacte- lesion is not seen in cats infected with M. the offensive smell typical of many cat rial skin condition of cats caused by an bovis or the agent of cat leprosy. Howev- abscesses. They occurred in a variety of acid fast bacterium which cannot be cul- er, bacterial culture is recommended for locations including the legs, shoulder, tured using conventional techniques. all cases of mycobacterial skin infections flank and inguinal regions. The presence Indirect evidence from animal transmis- because it is the only procedure which of skin lesions suggests infection was sion studies suggest that some of the can yield an unequivocal diagnosis. spread by bites or scratches, possibly from cases of cat leprosy are caused by Myco- Mycobacteriumfortuitum has only been tuberculous possums. The most com- bacterium lepraemuri~rn.~This species of isolated in New Zealand once since 1981 monly affected lymph nodes were the mycobacteria can cause a generalised in- from the skin of a cat. In addition, MAF submandibular and mesenteric lymph fection in rats. Lesions are firm, painless, Quality Management pathologists have nodes indicative of spread of infection by singular or multiple skin nodules up to 3 observed histological evidence of pyo- the oral route. These infections most cm in diameter. Cat leprosy is relatively granulomatous skin infections with acid probably occurred by cats eating tuber- common in New Zealand. A survey car- fast bacteria associated within fat vacu- culous wildlife or licking skin lesions. ried out from 1974 to 1977 by Thompson oles (RA Fairley and A C Johnstone pers. Prior to the effective control of tuberculo- and colleagues5 identified 179 cases, 156 comm.). sis in cattle and the use of pasteurisation, of which were in the North Island.5Sub- Disseminated tuberculosis in cats M. bouis-contaminated milk was a com- sequently, cat leprosy has been identi- caused by members of theMycobacteriurn mon source of infection for cats. In New fied in areas such as Dunedin where in- avium complex has been observed over- Zealand this source of infection has been fections were not recorded in the 1974-77 seas." Such cases are very rare and are virtually eliminated. survey.s more likely to occur in immunocompro- Mycobacterium bovis can cause disease mised animals. It is highly likely that in humans which is clinically indistin- immunosuppression caused by infection guishable from that due to M. tuberculo- Other mycobacterial infections with viruses such as the feline immuno- sis. Therefore, M. bovis infected cats con- of cats deficiency virus will predispose cats to stitute a potential source of infection for infection with mycobacteria. their owners. No cases of spread of infec- There are reports in the literature of tion from cat to owner have been docu- M. bovis? Mycobacterium fortuitum,6 My- mented in New Zealand. Nethertheless, cobacterium ~megmatis,~Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in dogs Mycobacterium bouis has only been iso- lated from dogs in New Zealand on two Table 1: Location ofM.bovis infected cats. occasions since 1981. One of the dogs, a fox terrier, came from the Wairarapa. Location NO. 1974-863 NO. 1987-92 Tuberculosis The only gross tuberculous lesion in this in wildlife animal was an enlarged submandibular lymph node. The other M. bouis isolate Whangarei 1 No came from a German shepherd from the Auckaland 1 No Central North Island Yes Hutt Valley. These figures probably re- Wanganui 1 No flect the natural resistance of dogs to M. Wairarapa 9 Yes bovis rather than a lack of exposure to this Horowhenua Yes bacterial species. In New Zealand there Hutt Valley 30 Yes appear to be frequent opportunities for West Coast dogs to be infected with M.bouis. Dogs (South Island) 6 Yes are commonly used to hunt feral pigs, a Christchurch 3 No widespread wildlife host of M. bovis. OtagolSouthland & Furthermore, some dogs scavenge carri- Central Otago & Mackenzie Basin I Yes* on while others hunt possums. Veterinarians should be reminded that Total 57 19 dogs can become infected with M.- tuberculosis by a tuberculous owner. * Note: one of the 1974-86 cases came from an area of Otago where tuberculosis is not present in the Cordes and others'2described such a case wildlife. occurring in New Zealand in a cross bred fox terrier. A constant companion of the first owner of this animal died of pulmo- Table3: Distributionofthe tuberculous nary tuberculosis 18 months prior to the IesionsinM. bovis infertedcats, 1974-1992. Table2: ClinicalsignsofM. bovis infected dog becoming sick. cats, 1974-1992 Gross lesion No. (%) Mycobacterium avium complex Clinical signs No. (%) Skin 37 49 infections in dogs Generalised 18 24 Skin lesions 37 49 Head lymph nodes 7 9 Dogs, like many other mammals in- Lymphadenopathy 17 22 Mesenteric lymph nodes 5 7 cluding cats, can develop generalised fa- Weight loss 8 11 Lungdthoracic tal infections caused by members of the Respiratory 4 5 lymph nodes 3 4 Depressed 2 3 M. avium complex.'3 Members of this Axillary lymph node 1 1 complex are found not only in birds, but Ear infection 1 1 Middle ear 1 1 Unknown 7 9 Unknown 4 5 are widespread in the environment. Ex- posure to members of this complex is Surveillance 20(4) 25 Surveillance Vol.20 No.4 1993 very common, while generalised infec- tions in animals such as cats, dogs and humans are very rare. When infections do occur they are often found in animals with a compromised immune system. Mycobacterium avium complex are one of the most common secondary infections in humans with AIDS. In New Zealand, only one case of generalised M. avium complex infection in a dog has been diag- nosed since 1981.