Risk for Mycobacterium celatum Infection from Ferret.

The article describes the case of Mycobacterium celatum infection in a ferret, with possible transmission to a human. Physical manifestations include coughing, vomiting and mild diarrhea, among others. It explains that M. celatum in humans affects immunocompromised hosts with developing pneumonia or disseminated mycobacteriosis. It suggests the possibility of airborne spread of mycobacteria detected from the ferret's lung and infection of humans. It recommends M. celatum infection to be strongly considered as a differential diagnosis in ferrets with pneumonia and generalized lymphatic hyperplasia.