Findings of mycobacteria in insectivores and small rodents

The organs of 30 insectivorous mammals and 62 rodents from areas inhabited by people or livestock where cattle paratuberculosis or mycobacterial infec tions of swine had been found to occur were examined by cultivation during the monitoring of occurrence and spread of mycobacterioses in cattle and sw ine. Mycobacteria were found in the organs of 3 insectivores (10 %) and 6 r odents (9.7 %). Mycobacterium chelonae was isolated from the organs of the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) and the common vole (Micr otus arvalis), and M, vaccae and M. avium subsp. avium (IS901(+). serotype I) from the organs of the common shrew (Sorex araneus), M. avium subsp. avi um (IS901(+), serotype 1) was also isolated from the organs of the yellow-n ecked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). Slow-growing mycobacteria of group III (according to Runyon) were isolated from the organs of the mouse (Mus muscu lus sensu late) and the yellow-necked mouse (A. flavicollis). These finding s had no connection with the epizootological situation in the nearby livest ock. M. fortuitum was isolated from the organs of the common vole (M. arval is) caught in a field within easy reach of a swine breeding herd. M. fortui tum was also identified in the lymph nodes and droppings of this swine herd , as well as in the straw, scrapings from the floor of stalls, troughs and banisters, as well as from larvae and imagoes of dipterous insects. These r esults demonstrate the possibility that insectivores and small rodents can spread the causative agents of mycobacteria in wild and domestic animals.