Concurrent infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis and Giardia duodenalis in a chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera f. dom.).

A 3-year-old, female chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera f. dom.) suffered from prolonged vaginal discharge. Sonographically, multiple nodules were detected in the uterus, and the lung showed a diffuse radiodensity. Ovario-hysterectomy was performed and histology of the uterus revealed a severe multifocal pyogranulomatous metritis with myriads of acid-fast rod-shaped bacilli. Microbiological culture of formalin-fixed uterine tissue and a native vaginal swab resulted in the growth of mycobacteria that were identified as Mycobacterium (M.) avium subsp. hominissuis. The animal was euthanized and pathomorphological examination revealed severe multifocal granulomatous inflammation of lung, mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes, intestine, pancreas and kidneys. In addition, an infection of the small intestine with Giardia duodenalis was confirmed immunohistochemically. This is the first report describing a concurrent infection with M. avium subsp. hominissuis and Giardia duodenalis in a chinchilla. Both pathogens represent a potential health risk especially for young or immunosuppressed persons, in particular if infected animals show unspecific clinical symptoms.