Abstract:
A 9-year-old
stallion
was
presented
to the
Veterinary
Teaching
Hospital
Sokoto
because
of deep-seated
ulcer
of the
skin
on
the
left
cheek.
The
lesion,
which
was
circular,
measuring
about
4cm
in diameter,
involved
the
dermis,
the
sub-cutis
and
the
underlying
platysma
and
masticator
muscle
tissue
of the
cheek.
It was
an
open
wound,
with
firm
suppurative
granules
suggestive
ofa
granuloma.
Microscopic
examination
of the
swab
from
the
lesion
using
Zeihl-Neelsen
technique
showed
acid
fast
bacilli.
Nocardia
was
ruled
out
through
bacterio-
logical
examination,
while
the
use
of nitrate
and
niacin
tests
suggested
that
the
organism
isolated
through
Lowenstein-Jensen
Medium
improved
with
pyruvate,
to be
Mycobacterium
bovis.
Following
an
administra-
tion
of purified
protein
derivation
(PPD)
to the
horse
boy,
he reacted
to it with
an
induration
measuring
12mm
in diameter.
This
case
presents
an
insight
into.the
risk
of transmission
of tuberculosis
between
man
and
horse.
