An unusual case of spinal cord restricted mycobacteriosis in a European mink

Summary

Granulomatous myelitis due to infection with Mycobacterium avium was diagnosed in a 4-year-old male neutered European mink (Mustela lutreola). The causative agent was detected by an acid-fast stain and further characterized by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing of the PCR product. A thorough histological evaluation of the remaining organs revealed no granulomatous lesions or detectable acid-fast organisms. Although minks are generally highly susceptible for mycobacteria, localised infections, especially of the central nervous system, are unusual and may represent an atypical chronic form of the disease.

Zusammenfassung

Eine granulomatöse Myelitis aufgrund einer Infektion mit Mycobacterium avium wurde in einem männlich-kastrierten Europäischen Nerz (Mustela lutreola) diagnostiziert. Die Mykobakterien wurden mittels Färbung auf säurefeste Stäbchen detektiert. Eine weitere Charakterisierung erfolgte durch Polymerasekettenreaktion und DNA-Sequenzierung des PCR-Produktes. In den übrigen Organen wurden trotz gründlicher Untersuchung weder eine granulomatöse Entzündung noch säurefeste Stäbchen nachgewiesen. Obwohl Nerze als sehr anfällig für Mykobakterien gelten, sind lokale Infektionen gerade des zentralen Nervensystems selten und könnten eine atypische chronische Form der Erkrankung darstellen.

Key words

Central nervous system - mink - Mycobacterium avium - spinal cord

Schlüsselwörter

Zentrales Nervensystem - Nerz - Mycobacterium avium - Rückenmark

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