Acute Septicemia in a Hermaphrodite Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) Infected with Mycobacterium chelonae Chemovar niacinogenes
A 2-yr-old male veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) was presented for open-mouthed breathing, lethargy, and progressive deterioration culminating in euthanasia. Postmortem examination revealed red discoloration of the lungs, liver, and coelomic fat pads and mild fluid accumulation in the coelom. Histopathological evaluation revealed acute septicemia characterized by numerous intravascular acid-fast bacteria and intravascular fibrin thrombi in multiple organs. Bacteriologic culture of the lung yielded heavy growth of Gram-positive, acid-fast pleomorphic bacilli which were identified as Mycobacterium chelonae chemovar niacinogenes with the use of 16s and hsp65 gene sequencing. The gonads were determined to be ovotestes. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of acute Mycobacterium chelonae septicemia in a veiled chameleon and also the first report of hermaphroditism in this species.Abstract
Left lateral radiograph showing a diffuse unstructured interstitial lung pattern and a horizontal soft tissue interface resembling a fluid line (arrow) in the midventral coelom.
Postmortem photograph of the coelomic viscera showing red expanded lungs (asterisk) and a mildly enlarged mottled red and tan liver (arrowhead). The fat pads are congested and have been reflected from the coelom (arrows).
Postmortem photograph of the left and right gonads and the right kidney. Each gonad is composed of a smooth ovoid black structure (testicle, asterisks) caudally and has yellow nodules (ovarian follicles, arrows) arising from the cranial surface.
Photomicrograph of a blood vessel in the pancreas. A coagulum of fibrin (asterisk), necrotic cellular debris, and bacterial colonies (arrow) are present within the lumen of a large artery. Hematoxylin and eosin stain, ×40.
Photomicrographs of the lung. (A) Colonies of bacteria, mostly within vessels, are present throughout the lung, expanding the pleura (arrows) and the faveolar septa (arrowheads). Hematoxylin and eosin stain, ×4. (B) Bacteria are strongly acid-fast. Ziehl-Neelsen stain, ×4. (C) Acid-fast bacilli are present extracellularly within blood vessels. Ziehl-Neelsen stain, ×100.
Photomicrograph of the small intestine. Ulceration of the mucosa is present overlying a well-organized granuloma (arrows). Hematoxylin and eosin stain, ×4.
