Ocular tuberculosis in a calf.

BACKGROUND: Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes granuloma formation mainly in retropharyngeal, tracheobronchial, mediastinal lymph nodes and lungs of bovines. The presence of these lesions in other tissues such as the eyeball is very rare and difficult to diagnose. This study describes macroscopic and microscopic pathological findings in a calf with ocular and meningeal tuberculosis. CASE PRESENTATION: March 2019, an eight-month-old Holstein Friesian calf was identified in a dairy farm located in central Mexico with a clinical cough, anorexia, incoordination, corneal opacity and vision loss. At necropsy, pneumonia, lymphadenitis, meningitis, and granulomatous iridocyclitis were observed. The histopathological examination revealed granulomatous lesions in lung tissue, lymph nodes, meninges and eyes with the presence of acid-fast bacilli associated with Mycobacterium spp. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that describes macroscopic and microscopic pathological findings of ocular tuberculosis in cattle. This report highlights the importance of considering bovine tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of corneal opacity and loss of vision in cattle.

Ocular manifestation of disseminated Mycobacterium simiae infection in a cat.

Disseminated mycobacterial disease was diagnosed in an eight-year-old domestic shorthaired cat, with involvement of the skin, lungs, lymph nodes and one eye. Mycobacterium simiae was cultured from skin biopsies on solid agar and in liquid media. This organism is known to cause pulmonary, cutaneous or disseminated infection in human patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome but has never been encountered as a pathogen in companion animals. Combination treatment with rifampicin, enrofloxacin and clarithromycin resulted in complete clinical remission within six months, with no side effects. No recurrence was observed in a 22-month follow-up period.

Ocular tuberculosis in a horse.

This paper is the first report of systemic tuberculosis involving the eyes in a horse. The animal lost condition and gradually became increasingly blind in both eyes; it was eventually euthanased. The pathological findings included bilateral, mycobacterial granulomatous uveitis with unilateral retinal detachment and necrosis, and disseminated, mycobacterial granulomatous foci in the myocardium, lungs, bronchial lymph nodes, kidneys, liver, pancreas, colon and visceral serosal surfaces, with the most extensive lesions in the myocardium. The mycobacteria were identified as Mycobacterium avium.

Conjunctival mycobacteriosis in two emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

Avian tuberculosis was diagnosed in two young adult female commercial emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) with granulomatous conjunctivitis. Histologically, the granulomas appeared typical of avian tuberculosis. Caseonecrotic cores were surrounded by a broad ring of palisading epithelioid macrophages and multinucleate giant cells with a moderate admixture of heterophils, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. One conjunctival granuloma had multifocal mineralization. At necropsy, granulomas were also found in visceral organs of both birds. Acid-fast bacilli were demonstrated in all lesions using Ziehl-Neelsen or Fite's stains. Culture confirmed the bacilli to be Mycobacterium avium (complex).

[Histological characteristics of the intraorbital glands of pheasants with tuberculosis]. / Khistologichni osobenosti na intraorbitalnite zhlezi pri fazani, bolni ot tuberkuloza.

For the first time in the country are investigated histologically lacrimal and Harderian glands of pheasants, affected by tuberculosis, raised in pens. By histological analysis were reported the results of the cell reactivity in the affected by the tubercular process tissues and organs. Under the influence of the mycobacteria and their disintegration products the tissues react specifically. In pheasants, affected by tuberculosis are established destructive processes in the intraorbital glands. Mainly in the connective tissue of the glands are observed tubercular knots, which morphologically differ from these in the hen. In the interlobular tissue, in the interacinar and peritubular connective tissue exist strongly expressed infiltration with cells of the lymphoid series, phagocytes and heterophils, as a result of the affected-tissue reactivity, on account of the local and diffusional spreading of the tubercular bacillus in the glands.

Intraocular granulomas associated with tuberculosis in primates.

Intraocular granulomas associated with tuberculosis were observed in 2 subhuman primates (Ateles geoffroyi and Macaca mulatta). Bacterial cultures from lung tissues at the time of necropsy confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium bovis and M tuberculosis, respectively. The absence of generalized clinical signs in spite of systemic dissemination of the organisms in these cases and the public health significance of tuberculous infections emphasize the importance of proper observation and diagnostic procedures in primate colonies and display collections.