Mycobacterium szulgai infection in a captive population of African clawed frogs (Xenopus tropicalis).

A colony of captive Xenopus tropicalis became infected with Mycobacterium szulgai. Clinical signs, when observed, were lethargy, weight loss, and emaciation. Visceral granulomas were common findings at laparoscopy and necropsy. The diagnosis of mycobacteriosis was based on histologic appearance and Ziehl-Neelsen staining of tissues. The identification of M. szulgai organisms was based on comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence with several GenBank databases. There have been no reports of this mycobacterial species as the causative agent of naturally occurring disease in amphibians.