THE ISOLATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM KANSASII FROM LYMPH NODES OF CATTLE. Jarnagin, J. L. and 

 Champion, M. L. 



Summary 



This paper describes the isolation of three strains of M. kansasii from bovine tissues. The isolation of this 

 organism from cattle provides further evidence of the pathogenicity of this organism in domestic animals. 



Introduction 



The isolation of atypical mycobacteria including the M. avium complex, from domestic animals has been 

 reported by numerous investigators; (6, 11, 8, 7, l) 1 however, the isolation of members of Runyon's Croup I, 

 particularly M. kansasii, has not been commonly reported from animals in the United States. M. kansasii has been 

 isolated from cattle and zoo animals (11, 8) in Europe and similar isolates have been described in swine and milk in 

 the United States (7, 1). 



This paper describes three isolations of M. kansasii from tissues of cattle received for mycobacteriologic 

 examination. 



General and Histopathologic Examination 



The first isolation (NADL 716231) was made from an adult bovine animal. Suprapharyngeal, bronchial, 

 mesenteric, prefemoral, prescapular and postmediastinal lymph node tissues were received in 10 percent buffered 

 formalin for histopathologic examination and in 0.087 percent chloramine T for bacteriologic examination. The 

 latter compound reduces bacterial contamination. 



Inflammation was seen in the prescapular and mesenteric nodes which were histopathologically suggestive of 

 lymphadenitis. No acid-fast bacilli were observed. 



The second isolate (NADL 723150) was cultured from tissues of an 18-month-old female bovine in which the 

 meat inspector suspected the observed gross lesions to be due to coccidioidal granuloma. 



Mediastinal lymph nodes were submitted in formalin as described above and also in saturated sodium borate 

 solution for bacteriologic examination. This solution, like chloramine T, acts to control gross bacterial 

 contamination. 



Histopathologic findings revealed tissue changes suggestive of mycobacterial infection but no acid-fast bacilli 

 were observed. 



The third isolation (NADL 727630) of M. kansasii was made from a 2-year-old cow that reacted to the 

 tuberculin test. Tissues from the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes described by the meat inspector as having 

 an unusual tissue reaction were received in formalin and sodium borate. Histopathologic evidence of lymphoid 

 hyperplasia was seen in the tissues but no acid-fast bacilli were observed. 



Bacteriologic Examination 



Each of the above tissue was processed by digestion with 5 percent papain (4) followed by concentration of 

 the mycobacteria with pentane (5). Slants of Lowenstein-Jensen, Stonebrink, Herrold and Middlebrook 7H10 media 

 were each inoculated with 0.1 ml of concentrated material and were incubated at 37 C. 



Colonies of isolates 727630 and 716231 appeared on Stonebrink 's medium 2 and 3 weeks following 

 inoculation. Isolate 723150 grew on Lowenstein-Jensen medium 5 weeks after inoculation. 



Microscopically, the bacterial cells from all three isolates appeared as long acid-fast rods 2.1 - 4.0 x 0.5 when 

 stained by the Ziehl-Neelsen method. No cellular branching was observed. Excellent cording and crossbanding was 

 observed in all isolates which are characteristics commonly seen in M. kansasii (9). 



Colonial morphology in all subcultured isolates varied from a smooth granular to a dry-flaky texture. Colonies 

 upon primary isolation were smooth, moist and pale yellow but darkened with age and additional exposure to light. 



Numbers in parentheses refer to References at the end of this report. 



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