Systemic mycobacteriosis in an inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

Mycobacterium marinum is a common infectious agent of fish and other aquatic organisms in which it causes systemic proliferative inflammation, typically with focal miliary granulomas (Wolke and Stroud 1978). In human beings, M marinum produces an atypical form of tuberculosis and causes a slow progression of disease. It is most commonly seen clinically in superficial infections of the hands and arms and may be referred to as ‘fishermans finger’ or ‘swimming pool granuloma’. The organism will not grow well above 32°C and it has therefore been suggested that it cannot cause systemic infections in homeotherms. However, there is evidence of two cases of homeotherm systemic infection with M marinum, both of which were associated with tropical aquatic fish. In one case, a manatee (Trichechus inunguis) in a display with tropical freshwater fish was infected (Morales and Madin 1985); in the other case a European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) kept in an aquarium tank, which had previously housed tropical freshwater fish, became infected (Tappe and others 1983).