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A captive loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) of unknown sex, 3 years of age, presented with bilateral mucoid secretions, severe chemosis, conjunctival hyperemia, and globe retraction. The animal was evaluated ophthalmologically and systemically, and hematological, microbiological, and conjunctival cytological and biopsy samples were collected for complementary diagnosis. The histopathological examination showed amphophilic intranuclear inclusions associated with severe inflammatory infiltrate. The diagnosis of Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChAHV 5) was confirmed with end point PCR. Following systemic treatment with L-lysine, acyclovir and vitamin A, the ocular signs resolved. No amphophilic intranuclear inclusions were seen in a follow-up biopsy 5 months later, and there has been no recurrence of clinical ophthalmic signs during a 4-year follow-up. It is suggested that ChAHV 5 be considered as a differential diagnosis in captive marine turtles that present for conjunctival disease other than fibropapillomatosis.

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INTRODUCTION: In Mexico, there is an alarming increase in the number of cases of Mycobacterium bovis infection on pulmonary and extrapulmonary presentations. The lack of timely identification triggers complications and increases mortality. OBJECTIVE: To know the frequency of M. bovis infections in clinical samples of patients with tuberculosis in the mycobacteria laboratory of a reference hospital in Mexico City. METHOD: Prospective, descriptive study. Strains isolated from biological material were studied in Löwestein-Jensen and MGITI960 cultures. M. bovis was identified by amplifying the RD9 fragment with end-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Eight-hundred and fifty tuberculosis-diagnosed patients were included; in 441 cases, Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed by positive culture (250 pulmonary, 65 ganglionic, 39 renal, 34 meningeal, 25 miliary, 14 pleural, 8 peritoneal, 4 bone and 2 pericardial cases). Forty-eight strains (10.8%) were typified as M. bovis by amplification of the RD9 fragment with end-point PCR. CONCLUSIONS: M. bovis is not currently thought of a causative agent of tuberculosis, which could be the cause of pharmacological treatment failure. In this study, the main extrapulmonary form was observed to be cervical lymphadenopathy.

INTRODUCCIÓN: En México existe un incremento alarmante de casos de infección pulmonar y extrapulmonar por Mycobacterium bovis. La falta de identificación oportuna deriva en complicaciones y eleva la mortalidad. OBJETIVO: Conocer la frecuencia de infecciones por Mycobacterium bovis en muestras clínicas de pacientes con tuberculosis, identificadas en el laboratorio de micobacterias en un hospital de concentración de la Ciudad de México. MÉTODO: Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo. Se estudiaron cepas aisladas de material biológico en cultivos Löwestein-Jensen y MGITI960. La identificación de Mycobacterium bovis se realizó mediante la amplificación del fragmento RD9 por PCR punto final. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 850 pacientes con diagnóstico de tuberculosis, en 441 casos se confirmó Mycobacterium tuberculosis por cultivo positivo (250 casos pulmonares, 65 ganglionares, 39 renales, 34 meníngeos, 25 miliares, 14 pleurales, ocho peritoneales, cuatro óseos y dos pericárdicos). Se tipificaron 48 cepas (10.8 %) como Mycobacterium bovis por amplificación del fragmento RD9 por PCR punto final. CONCLUSIONES: Actualmente no se piensa en Mycobacterium bovis como agente causal de tuberculosis, lo que pudiera ser la causa del fracaso del tratamiento farmacológico. En este estudio se observó que la principal forma extrapulmonar es la linfadenopatía cervical.

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