AN OUTBREAK OF TUBERCULOSIS BY MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS IN COATIS (NASUA NASUA)

• Published in: Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 338 - 341
• Main Authors: Murakami, Patrícia Sayuri, Monego, Fernanda, Ho, John L, Gibson, Andrea, de Castro Vilani, Ricardo Guilherme D'Otaviano, Soresini, Grazielle Cristina Garcia, Brockelt, Sonia Regina, Biesdorf, Sonia Maria, Fuverki, Renata Benício Neves, Nakatani, Sueli Massumi, Riediger, Irina Nastassja, Grazziotin, Ana Laura, Santos, Andrea Pires do, de Barros Filho, Ivan Roque, Biondo, Alexander Welker
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 01-06-2012
• Subjects: Alveoli; Animals; Brazil - epidemiology; Bronchus; CASE SERIES/REPORTS; Coatis; Disease Outbreaks - veterinary; DNA; Epidemiology; Fungal infections; Genetic screening; Infection; Infections; Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium bovis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Nasua nasua; Polymerase chain reaction; Procyonidae; Skin tests; Tuberculin; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - veterinary; Wildlife; Zoos; Brazil
• ISSN: 1042-7260; 1937-2825
• DOI: 10.1638/2010-0043.1

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which includes Mycobacterium bovis, infrequently causes severe or lethal disease in captive wildlife populations. A dead coati from a wildlife triage center showing pulmonary lesions compatible with tuberculosis had raised suspicion of a potential disease caused by mycobacteria species and was further investigated. Four native coatis (Nasua nasua) with suspected mycobacterial infection were sedated, and bronchoalveolar lavages and tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) were performed. All animals tested positive upon TST. Mycobacterial culturing, Ziehl–Neelsen staining, and genetic testing were performed on postmortem samples and the etiologic agent was identified as M. bovis. Molecular genetic identification using a polymerase chain reaction panel was crucial to achieving a definitive diagnosis.