Mycobacterium lepraemurium
Mycobacterium lepraemurium is a causative agent of feline leprosy. It causes granulomatous lesions, characteristic of the Mycobacterium genus.
Description
Gram-positive, nonmotile and strongly acid-fast rods. Slightly rounded ends.Colony characteristics
- Rough nonchromogenic colonies.
Pathogenesis
- Cause of endemic disease of rats in various parts of the world, as well as feline leprosy.
- feline leprosy is transmitted by bites from rats and other cats.
- Disease occurs mainly in the skin and lymph nodes, causing induration, alopecia and eventual ulceration.
- Nodular lesions, involving subcutaneous tissues, may be solitary or multiple and usually confined to the head region or the limbs. Nodules are fleshy and freely movable.
- Surgical excision of the lesions is the preferred treatment.
- Only the densely and uniformly stained forms appear to be infectious for animals, in contrast to the degenerate unevenly stained forms.
- Biosafety level 2