Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium are the most important Mycobacteria isolated from diseased dogs, but Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be isolated as well, especially when close contact with humans exists. Free ranging street dogs may carry zoonotic diseases, being a potential health risk to new owners after adoption. In this study, the clinical case of a dog affected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is described. A six-year-old bitch that had been living with a homeless man was rescued and put for adoption in dog shelter. After being adopted, her health declined, and abdominal ultrasound and exploratory laparoscopy were performed. A tuberculosis-like lesion in the liver was biopsied and histopathological, bacteriological, and molecular analyses were carried out. Then, the animal was euthanized and necropsied, and disseminated macroscopic tuberculosis-like lesions were observed in abdominal organs. Mycobacterium presence was confirmed by histopathological and bacteriological methods. Genotyping identified a SIT-1228 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain. Notification to the sanitary authorities was performed and the couple that had contact with the dog were alerted and sent to the hospital for assessment, as Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a primary pathogenic agent for humans. The epidemiology in this clinical case is unclear, but the most likely source of infection might have been consumption of sputum contaminated food during the years that this bitch lived with the homeless man, because this person had died with chronic respiratory symptoms. Veterinarians must consider this disease and perform a complete diagnosis when dogs that used to live on the streets show nonspecific clinical signs.
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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article. Additional clinical studies performed in the veterinary clinic (ultrasound and radiography, blood analysis) are also available on demand to the corresponding author.
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All authors have contributed to the editing and correction of the Manuscript. MJM has taken part in methodology, data curation, original draft writing and editing. SB has participated in the methodology, editing, and writing of the manuscript. MJZ, LG and TF have participated in the methodology and laboratory diagnosis. ML has participated in the methodology and clinical diagnosis. LG and SC have participated in the methodology and epidemiological data curation. MMV has participated in founding acquisition and editing of the manuscript. EF has taken on the data curation and original draft writing and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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No ethics approval or consent form was necessary to perform diagnosis, as the dog did not have owners and the study was carried out during routine veterinary practices and therapeutic procedures. Euthanasia was decided based on the animal welfare and in agreement with the dog´s temporary caretakers. Official authorities from the zoonotic institute were involved and gave consent for the publication of this study. ARRIVE guidelines were consulted during the preparation of the manuscript.
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Marfil, M.J., Barandiaran, S., Zumárraga, M.J. et al. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a free-ranging urban dog from Argentina. Vet Res Commun 46, 781–788 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-022-09898-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-022-09898-4