Mycobacterium spp. infection in cats presents an important veterinary public health issue because of its zoonotic potential. One significant group of Mycobacterium is Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), a facultative pathogen that can cause diseases in animals and humans. The high cat population in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, increases the risk of NTM transmission in cats and causes a zoonotic risk to humans. However, case reports of this infectious agent in the region are currently unavailable, indicating the need for more study. This study aimed to detect and identify the presence of NTM infection in cats in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Swab specimens (nasal, oropharyngeal, and wound) were collected from 70 cats with clinical signs of skin and respiratory tract infections. All specimens were analyzed using microscopic examination, bacteria culture (HEYM), PCR using IS6100, and sequencing DNA. Five colonies were found with typical characteristics of Mycobacterium species, after confirmation Microscopic examination with Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) and PCR examination using IS6110, only three isolates were positive Mycobacterium spp. Two isolates were identified as Mycobacterium fortuitum, and one isolate was identified as Mycobacterium chelonae. This study suggests the potential epidemiological relevance of NTM infections in cats, which warrants further investigation regarding their implications for public health.

To Cite This Article: Putra A, Nugroho WS, Tjahajati I and Adji RS, 2026. Detection of zoonotic potential non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in cats in the special region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Pak Vet J, 46(6): 1557-1564. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.147