Tuberculosis in a pet ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Abstract

A 9-month old pet ferret was presented to a veterinarian with symptoms of weight loss, apathy, and hyporexia. Explorative laparotomy identified a firm mass of approximately 2 × 2 × 2 cm in size in the mesentery of the jejunum. Because of the poor general condition and the unfavorable prognosis, the ferret was euthanized during surgery. The mass was resected in total and submitted to histological examination which revealed a granulomatous and necrotizing lymphadenitis. Acid fast bacteria were detected by Fite-Faraco staining leading to the suspicion of an infection with Mycobacteria sp. PCR confirmed presence of DNA of members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, subsequently specified as M. bovis. The detected spoligotype SB2548 was described for the first time. Ferrets are presented to veterinarians with increasing frequency because of their growing popularity as pet animals. Since these animals are highly susceptible to mycobacterial infections, mycobacteriosis and especially zoonotic relevant tuberculosis should be considered as differential diagnosis.

Zusammenfassung

Ein 9 Monate altes Frettchen wurde aufgrund von Gewichtsverlust, Apathie und Hyporexie in einer Tierarztpraxis vorgestellt. Bei der explorativen Laparotomie zeigte sich im Jejunumgekröse eine Umfangsvermehrung von ca. 2 × 2 × 2 cm. Aufgrund seines schlechten Allgemeinzustands und der ungünstigen Prognose wurde das Tier euthanasiert. Die histologische Untersuchung der postmortal in toto resezierten Umfangsvermehrung ergab eine granulomatöse und nekrotisierende Entzündung unter Einbeziehung eines Lymphknotens. Durch Fite-Faraco-Färbung ließen sich säurefeste Stäbchen nachweisen, die zur Verdachtsdiagnose einer Mykobakteriose führten. Mittels PCR wurde DNS von Mitgliedern des Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Komplex, genau M. bovis, identifiziert. Der nachgewiesene Spoligotyp SB2548 konnte dabei erstmals dokumentiert werden. Frettchen gewinnen zunehmend auch als Haustier an Bedeutung und werden daher immer öfter bei Tierärzten vorgestellt. Da diese Tiere gegenüber Mykobakterien hoch empfänglich sind, sollten Mykobakteriosen, und hierbei v. a. auch die zoonotisch bedeutsame Tuberkulose, differenzialdiagnostisch in Betracht gezogen werden.

Key words

Pet animal - mycobacteriosis - Mycobacterium bovis - Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex - lymphadenitis

Schlüsselwörter

Heimtier - Mykobakteriose - Mycobacterium bovis - Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Komplex - Lymphadenitis

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