Occasionally, in cats and dogs various saprophytic mycobacteria including the M. fortuitum - M. chelonei complex, M. smegmatis, M. xenopi and M. phlei have been isolated from:

• superficial or, rarely, deeper persistent abscesses;
• ulcerative lesions; or
• granulomatous lesions.

TREATMENT

Treatment is by surgical removal/drainage combined with antibiotics. Gentamicin (2 m/kg IM or SC twice daily) or potentiated sulphonamides (10-15 mg/kg twice a day) are sometimes useful as the usual anti-tuberculous antibiotics are usually ineffective. Treatment is apparently more likely to be successful in dogs than in cats.

See also Feline Leprosy .



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