Pulmonary tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis revealed by skin lesion in slaughterhouse worker

Clin Respir J. 2018 Jan;12(1):317-321. doi: 10.1111/crj.12485. Epub 2016 May 12.

Abstract

A 46-year-old male patient who has worked as a butcher was admitted to the hospital with an unhealing wound on the dorsal side of his hand. Incisional biopsy was performed from the lesion and histopathological diagnosis revealed a granulomatous inflammatory process, compatible with tuberculosis. The patient was directed to the department of chest diseases for further investigation in terms of pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) infection. On the chest X-ray and thoracic CT scan, a minimal infiltration was observed in the left upper lobe. In two respiratory samples obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was isolated and identified as M. bovis in subspecies level. After overall clinical evaluation, anti-TB treatment was initialized and a radiologic/clinical regression was observed during the follow-up procedure. This case has been reported as a rare and noteworthy pulmonary TB disease due to M. bovis in a slaughterhouse worker with a cutaneous granulomatous inflammatory reaction.

Keywords: M. Bovis; cutaneous granulomatous reaction; pulmonary tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abattoirs*
  • Animals
  • Biopsy
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Cattle
  • Humans
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium bovis / isolation & purification*
  • Occupational Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Occupational Diseases / parasitology
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Tuberculosis, Bovine / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Bovine / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / microbiology