Systemic Mycobacterium smegmatis infection in a dog
Grooters, A.M.; Couto, C.G.; Andrews, J.M.; Johnson, S.E.; Kowalski, J.J.; Esplin, R.B.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 206(2): 200-202
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 7751221 Document Number: 440715
A 3-year-old female Basset Hound was examined because of fever and lameness of 2 months' duration. Physical examination revealed a small cranial abdominal mass, which had an ultrasonographic appearance of a large abdominal lymph node. Cytologic examination of an ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirate of the mass revealed a few macrophages that contained numerous linear unstained structures consistent with mycobacteria. Intracellular acid-fast bacilli were identified in an aspirate that was stained with modified Ziehl-Neelsen. Exploratory laparotomy revealed wide-spread abdominal lymphadenopathy. Histologic examination of hepatic and lymph node biopsy specimens revealed chronic granulomatous hepatitis and lymphadenitis. Acid-fast organisms isolated after bacteriologic culturing of a mesenteric lymph node specimen were identified as Mycobacterium smegmatis. Because the prognosis was poor, the dog was euthanatized.