Mycobacterium genavense infection in two species of captive snakes

 

Leila Sabrina Ullmann¹, Neto Ramiro das Neves Dias², Didier Quevedo Cagnini³, Ricardo Seiti Yamatogi⁴, Filho Jose Paes Oliveira³, Viviane Nemer⁵, Rodrigo Hidalgo Friciello Teixeira², Alexander Welker Biondo⁵, João Pessoa Araújo Jr.¹

 

1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Botucatu Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP 80035-050, Brazil

2 Sorocaba Municipal Zoo Park (Quinzinho de Barros), Sorocaba, SP, Brazil

3 Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, SP, Brazil

4 Veterinary Practitioner, Pathology Anatomy Specialist, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil

5 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

 

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mycobacterium is an important zoonotic agent with companion, livestock and wildlife animals reportedly playing a role as reservoirs. Although its association with reptiles has been described, the disease cycle remains to be fully established, particularly in snakes. Accordingly, this study aimed to report the occurrence of mycobacteriosis with clinical pneumonia in one exotic python snake (Python molurus) and one native green snake (Philodryas olfersii) from the Sorocaba Zoo, São Paulo state, Brazil.

 

Methods:

Diagnosis was based on necropsy, histopathological examination, Ziehl-Neelsen stain and immunohistochemistry.

 

Results:

Using a nested PCR followed by DNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, the causative Mycobacterium species was identified as Mycobacterium genavense.

 

Conclusion:

Mycobacterium genavense is an infectious zoonotic agent of animal and public health concerns.

 

Key words: Captive snakes; Mycobacterium; Public health

 

Received: February 03, 2016.

Accepted: September 10, 2016.

 

Correspondence: jpessoa@ibb.unesp.br

 

Authors' contributions

LSU participated in the study design, analysis and manuscript preparation. RNDN and RHFT participated in sample collection and manuscript preparation. DQC and JPOF participated in sample analysis and manuscript preparation. RSY participated in the study design, sample analysis and manuscript preparation. VN performed part of the diagnosis and participated in manuscript preparation. AWB participated in the manuscript preparation and revision. JPAJ participated in the study design, coordination and supervision of the study. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

 

Competing interests

The authors declare that there are no competing interests.