Gross and histopathological lesions associated with tuberculosis in two sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) in India

Post-mortem examination of two sloth bears which died in Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, were performed. Both the animals were anorectic and had considerable weight loss before death. Representative lung tissue samples were subjected to histopathology and staining. The lung tissues of the animals had diffuse congestion and subpleural petechial hemorrhages. In addition, small nodules of varied diameters were seen scattered on the lung lobes of both animals. On histopathological examination, the lung tissue of one of the animals showed extensive proliferation of blood vessels. Congestion and subpleural hemorrhages were seen in both cases. Few macrophages and epithelioid cells were seen scattered adjacent to a bronchiole. Kinyoun’s acid fast staining of the histological sections revealed numerous acid fast bacilli indicative of tuberculosis.