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17 March 2020 MYCOBACTERIAL DISEASE AND SUBSEQUENT DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATIONS IN A GROUP OF CAPTIVE PINNIPEDS IN NEW ZEALAND
James Chatterton, An Pas, Sarah Alexander, Melanie Leech, Lydia Uddstrom, Catherine Harvey, Sophie Dennison, Wendi D. Roe
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Abstract

This case series includes a single case of disseminated tuberculous disease due to Mycobacterium pinnipedii in a New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri), which was being cared for by a zoo in New Zealand. The remaining five pinnipeds in the colony underwent extensive mycobacterial disease surveillance over the following 4 yr, involving a total of 26 anesthetic procedures and numerous diagnostic tests that included comparative intradermal tuberculin skin tests, mycobacterial antibody serology, respiratory and gastric lavages, and computed tomography (CT) scans. An additional case of chronic sinusitis due to Mycobacterium marinum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Results from CT and the respiratory lavages were the most helpful antemortem diagnostic tests for active mycobacterial disease in this case series. Of the remaining four animals, two were euthanatized and two remain alive, and none of them had evidence of active mycobacterial disease. Further mycobacterial disease surveillance in staff and animals was performed, and no other case was identified. There are no validated mycobacterial surveillance tests available for pinnipeds and so it remains unknown whether the two surviving pinnipeds are truly negative or whether they have latent mycobacterial infection that could develop into active mycobacterial disease in the future. For this reason, increased levels of biosecurity and quarantine remain permanently in place for the pinniped colony.

Copyright 2020 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
James Chatterton, An Pas, Sarah Alexander, Melanie Leech, Lydia Uddstrom, Catherine Harvey, Sophie Dennison, and Wendi D. Roe "MYCOBACTERIAL DISEASE AND SUBSEQUENT DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATIONS IN A GROUP OF CAPTIVE PINNIPEDS IN NEW ZEALAND," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 51(1), 177-187, (17 March 2020). https://doi.org/10.1638/2019-0007
Accepted: 2 October 2019; Published: 17 March 2020
KEYWORDS
Broncho-alveolar lavage
computed tomography
Mycobacterium marinum
Mycobacterium pinnipedii
pinniped
serology
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