RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Cousins, Debby V. A1 Bastida, Ricardo A1 Cataldi, Angel A1 Quse, Viviana A1 Redrobe, Sharon A1 Dow, Sue A1 Duignan, Padraig A1 Murray, Alan A1 Dupont, Christine A1 Ahmed, Niyaz A1 Collins, Des M. A1 Butler, W. Ray A1 Dawson, David A1 Rodríguez, Diego A1 Loureiro, Julio A1 Romano, Maria Isabel A1 Alito, A. A1 Zumarraga, M. A1 Bernardelli, AmeliaYR 2003 T1 Tuberculosis in seals caused by a novel member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex: Mycobacterium pinnipedii sp. nov. JF International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, VO 53 IS 5 SP 1305 OP 1314 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.02401-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1466-5034, AB A comparison of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from seals (pinnipeds) in Australia, Argentina, Uruguay, Great Britain and New Zealand was undertaken to determine their relationships to each other and their taxonomic position within the complex. Isolates from 30 cases of tuberculosis in six species of pinniped and seven related isolates were compared to representative and standard strains of the M. tuberculosis complex. The seal isolates could be distinguished from other members of the M. tuberculosis complex, including the recently defined ‘Mycobacterium canettii’ and ‘Mycobacterium caprae’, on the basis of host preference and phenotypic and genetic tests. Pinnipeds appear to be the natural host for this ‘seal bacillus’, although the organism is also pathogenic in guinea pigs, rabbits, humans, Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and, possibly, cattle. Infection caused by the seal bacillus is predominantly associated with granulomatous lesions in the peripheral lymph nodes, lungs, pleura, spleen and peritoneum. Cases of disseminated disease have been found. As with other members of the M. tuberculosis complex, aerosols are the most likely route of transmission. The name Mycobacterium pinnipedii sp. nov. is proposed for this novel member of the M. tuberculosis complex (the type strain is 6482T=ATCC BAA-688T=NCTC 13288T)., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/ijsem/10.1099/ijs.0.02401-0