Mixed Infection of Mycobacterium szulgai, M. lentiflavum, and Gram-Negative Bacteria as a Cause of Death in a Brown Caiman Caiman crocodylus: A Case Report

This paper describes a fatal case of nontuberculosis mycobacteriosis in a four-year-old brown caiman kept in captivity. Although the clinical signs were asymptomatic, severe gross lesions were observed, namely necrotic inflammation of the intestines and granulomatous hepatitis. Microbiological and histopathological examination performed on the tissues collected postmortem revealed a mixed infection of Mycobacterium lentiflavum and Mycobacterium szulgai, secondarily mimicked with Salmonella Coeln, Aeromonas hydrofila, Citrobacter freundii, and Providencia rettgeri. Those microorganisms are not only potentially pathogenic to reptiles, but also have a zoonotic importance for humans. Our findings clearly demonstrate the importance of educating owners and maintaining hygiene rules when handling reptiles.