Mycobacterium lepraemurium explained

Mycobacterium lepraemurium is a causative agent of feline leprosy.^[1] It causes granulomatous lesions, characteristic of the Mycobacterium genus.

Description

Gram-positive, nonmotile and strongly acid-fast rods (3-5 μm long). Slightly rounded ends.

Colony characteristics

• Rough nonchromogenic colonies.

Physiology

• Growth on inspissated 1% egg yolk medium at 30 °C - 37 °C within 4–5 weeks (using large inocula, confined to a concentrated area of the medium, egg white is inhibitory).

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

Type strain

None specified due to difficulties in cultivation.

Notes and References

1. Hughes MS, James G, Taylor MJ, etal . PCR studies of feline leprosy cases . J. Feline Med. Surg. . 6 . 4 . 235–43 . August 2004 . 15265479 . 10.1016/j.jfms.2003.09.003 . 11959603 .