Improved clinicopathologic assessments of acute liver damage due to trauma in Indian ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri manillensis).

Increased activities of certain biochemical enzymes (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], alkaline phosphatase [ALP]) have been associated with blunt liver injury in many species. To evaluate changes in plasma hepatic biochemical parameters in acute avian liver disease caused by trauma and to compare biochemical changes with histologic lesions in hepatic parenchyma, 30 healthy fasted Indian ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri manillensis) were divided into 2 groups, and traumatic liver injury was caused by endoscopic liver biopsy (group 1) or by liver biopsy and crushing injury to the hepatic parenchyma with endoscopic forceps (group 2) in anesthetized birds. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, and 120 hours in alternate groups to compare analyte values after injury with those at baseline. Results showed consistently decreased plasma ALP activity (excluding 1 time point) throughout the study, which was thought to be associated with isoflurane administration. Plasma glutamate dehydrogenase activity initially increased but rapidly declined thereafter and was attributed to acute focal hepatocellular injury. In both groups, increases in plasma AST, ALT, and LDH activities was most likely caused by muscle injury because creatine kinase activity was concurrently increased. Compared with baseline values, bile acid concentration and y-glutamyl transferase activity were not affected by liver biopsy or crush injury. Plasma sorbitol dehydrogenase activity was the most specific indicator of liver injury in both groups. Histologic changes correlated poorly with biochemical results, possibly because the small area of hepatic parenchyma that was damaged did not affect enzyme values substantially.

Gingival osteogenic melanoma in two dogs.

Osteogenic melanoma is a rare variant of metaplastic malignant melanoma in human medicine and appears to be a similarly rare variant in dogs. Two dogs with oral malignant melanoma with neoplastic bone formation are reported in this study. Both tumors were characterized by malignant melanocytes that transitioned into neoplastic bone at the deep margins of the neoplasm. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed S100- and Melan-A-positive neoplastic cells adjacent to, and occasionally embedded within, an osteoid and chondroblastic matrix. Scattered clusters of neoplastic cells were also positive for osteocalcin. The findings indicate that in dogs, as in humans, neoplastic melanocytes have metaplastic potential and can be osteogenic.

Proceedings of the 2009 National Toxicology Program Satellite Symposium.

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Satellite Symposium is a one-day meeting that is held in conjunction with the annual Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) meeting. The topic of the 2009 Symposium was "Tumor Pathology and INHAND (International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria for Lesions in Rats and Mice) Nomenclature." The goal of this article is to provide summaries of each speaker's presentation, including the diagnostic or nomenclature issues that were presented, along with a few select images that were used for voting. The results of the voting process and interesting points of discussion that were raised during the presentation are also provided. A supplemental file with voting choices and voting results for each case presented at the symposium is available at http://tpx.sagepub.com/supplemental.

Atoxoplasmosis in canary fledglings: severe lymphocytic enteritis with preferential parasitism of B lymphocytes.

All fledgling canaries (Serinum canarius) in a small private aviary died from atoxoplasmosis during a single breeding season. The birds were clinically normal when removed from their parents at 2 mo of age, but by 3 mo of age all had died following an illness characterized by progressive lethargy, anorexia, and debilitation. Cachexia, splenomegaly, and pale foci in the liver were evident at necropsy. Microscopically, there was striking infiltration of the intestinal lamina propria by mononuclear cells that contained intracytoplasmic protozoa. Protozoa were also observed in mononuclear cells in splenic and hepatic sinusoids and in vascular or perivascular spaces of other organs, but were much less numerous. Ultrastructural features of infected enteric mononuclear cells were suggestive of lymphocytes, and the majority of parasitized cells in paraffin sections of intestine were positive for CD-79 antigen, consistent with B lymphocytes. CD-3 staining was minimal, suggesting little or no T-cell infection. The following year, after egg-laying was completed, adults were treated with sulfadimethoxine, and no further fledgling losses occurred.

Investigation of shell disease in map turtles (Graptemys spp.).

Nineteen map turtles (Graptemys spp.) maintained under natural conditions were investigated because of chronic shell abnormalities. Animals were evaluated using a novel shell scoring system that divided the 54 scutes into six regions, with each region scored for lesion extent and severity, and summated to produce a total shell disease score (TSDS). Complete blood counts and various biochemistry analytes (total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, uric acid, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, phosphorus, and ionized and total calcium) were measured. Under ketamine-medetomidine-morphine anesthesia, cytology tape strips and full thickness shell biopsies were collected aseptically for microbiologic, histologic (including scoring of biopsy quality), and ultrastructural evaluations. The TSDSs were low and ranged from 4 to 22 (median = 9) out of a possible score of 54. There were no correlations between TSDS and any hematologic or biochemistry parameter. The histologic quality of shell biopsies was good, and normal shell structure, by both light and electron microscopy, is described. Small clefts and pitting lesions were noted in 8/19 sections. There was no evidence of erosion, ulceration, inflammation, or infectious agents, but algae and diatoms were observed. Six biopsies yielded aerobic isolates (Chryseobacterium indologenes, Aeromonas hydrophila, Ralstonia pickettii, and Morganella morganii), whereas 11 shell samples grew various clostridial anerobes. No fungal organisms were cultured. Although the etiology of the lesions described remains unknown, the use of a scoring system in conjunction with full thickness biopsies is suggested to help standardize investigations into chelonian shell disease in the future.

Systemic adenovirus infection in Sulawesi tortoises (Indotestudo forsteni) caused by a novel siadenovirus.

A novel siadenovirus was identified in the Sulawesi tortoise (Indotestudo forsteni). A group of 105 Sulawesi tortoises was obtained by the Turtle Survival Alliance. Many of the tortoises were in poor health. Clinical signs included anorexia, lethargy, mucosal ulcerations and palatine erosions of the oral cavity, nasal and ocular discharge, and diarrhea. Initial diagnostic tests included fecal testing for parasites, complete blood count and plasma biochemical analysis, mycoplasma serology, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for intranuclear coccidia and chelonian herpesvirus. Treatment included administration of antibiotics, antiparasitic medications, parenteral fluids, and nutritional support. Tissue samples from animals that died were submitted for histopathologic evaluation. Histopathologic examination revealed systemic inflammation and necrosis associated with intranuclear inclusions consistent with a systemic viral infection in 35 tortoises out of 50 examined. Fecal testing results and histopathologic findings revealed intestinal and hepatic amoebiasis and nematodiasis in 31 animals. Two of 5 tortoises tested by PCR were positive for Chlamydophila sp. Aeromonas hydrophila and Escherichia coli were cultured from multiple organs of 2 animals. The mycoplasma serology and PCR results for intranuclear coccidia and chelonian herpesvirus were negative. Polymerase chain reaction testing of tissues, plasma, and choanal/cloacal samples from 41 out of 42 tortoises tested were positive for an adenovirus, which was characterized by sequence analysis and molecular phylogenetic inference as a novel adenovirus of the genus Siadenovirus. The present report details the clinical and anatomic pathologic findings associated with systemic infection of Sulawesi tortoises by this novel Siadenovirus, which extends the known reptilian adenoviruses to the chelonians and extends the known genera of reptilian Adenoviridae beyond Atadenovirus to include the genus Siadenovirus.

Tolerance doses of cutaneous and mucosal tissues in ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri) for external beam megavoltage radiation.

Currently used dosages for external-beam megavoltage radiation therapy in birds have been extrapolated from mammalian patients and often appear to provide inadequate doses of radiation for effective tumor control. To determine the tolerance doses of cutaneous and mucosal tissues of normal birds in order to provide more effective radiation treatment for tumors that have been shown to be radiation responsive in other species, ingluvial mucosa and the skin over the ingluvies of 9 ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri) were irradiated in 4-Gy fractions to a total dose of either 48, 60, or 72 Gy using an isocentric cobalt-60 teletherapy unit. Minimal radiation-induced epidermal changes were present in the high-dose group histologically. Neither dose-related acute nor chronic radiation effects could be detected in any group grossly in cutaneous or mucosal tissue over a 9-month period. Radiation doses of 72 Gy in 4-Gy fractions were well tolerated in the small number of ring-necked parakeets in this initial tolerance dose study.

Comparison between coelioscopy and coeliotomy for liver biopsy in channel catfish.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate endoscopic liver biopsy and compare that technique with a standard coeliotomy biopsy technique in fish. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: 30 channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). PROCEDURES: 10 fish were randomly assigned into control, coeliotomy, and coelioscopy groups. Anesthesia was performed with a recirculating anesthesia machine. Body weight, PCV, and total protein (TP) concentration in blood as well as plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and sorbitol dehydrogenase were measured before and after surgery. Standard ventral coeliotomy or coelioscopy was performed, and the biopsy specimens were scored histologically. RESULTS: Coeliotomy and coelioscopy procedures were well tolerated without acute deaths. Blood TP concentration and PCV decreased after surgery in the coelioscopy group because of intracoelomic fluid administration to aid visualization. Minor changes in activities for hepatic and muscular enzyme activities were apparent, but were not significantly different between the coelioscopy and coeliotomy groups. Coelioscopy and coeliotomy yielded biopsy specimens of similar diagnostic quality. However, coelioscopy permitted a more extensive evaluation of the viscera, and all 10 surgical wounds healed completely, compared with severe wound dehiscence in 3 of 10 fish that underwent coeliotomy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Both coelioscopy and coeliotomy were capable of yielding antemortem liver biopsy specimens of diagnostic quality in catfish. Coelioscopy permitted a more detailed examination of the coelomic viscera through a smaller surgical incision, was less traumatic, and resulted in decreased wound dehiscence.

Three cases of systemic atypical granulomatous disease in moluccan cockatoos (Cacatua moluccensis): a new syndrome.

A 1.5-year-old male Moluccan cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) presented to Kansas State University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital with a 4-month history of lethargy and weakness. Hematologic and radiographic diagnostic testing revealed profound leukocytosis and coelomic and pulmonary granulomatous masses of unknown origin. The bird died during laparoscopic evaluation under general anesthesia. Necropsy revealed multiple pulmonary and hepatic soft-tissue nodules and an intracoelomic mass over the left kidney communicating with external subcutaneous masses and a pericloacal mass of similar gross appearance. Histopathologic findings identified a severe, disseminated, inflammatory infiltration of multiple tissues and multiple granulomas containing bizarre multinucleated cells. No causative agent of this granulomatous disease was identified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of systemic atypical granulomatous disease in Moluccan cockatoo. Traditional causes of granulomatous disease include mycotic disease, bacterial (ie, Mycobacterium) disease, and neoplasia. Attempts to identify an causative agent or neoplasia were unsuccessful. A retrospective review of pathology records revealed 2 additional cases with identical pathologic lesions. All 3 cases occurred in young Moluccan cockatoos and are assumed to be a disease of unknown origin that could be unique to this species.

Cytologic diagnosis of diseases of ferrets.

Cytology is a useful, rapid, inexpensive diagnostic technique that is particularly suitable for ferrets because of their small size and readily accessible organs and tissues. This article begins with a brief discussion of general cytologic information. The remainder of the article concentrates on the cytologic features of common diseases that affect ferrets.

Avian cytology.

An overview of avian cytology is presented, discussing more common abnormalities that are encountered in routine clinical practice. The general cytologic features of inflammatory, infectious, and neo-plastic lesions are described. The remainder of the article covers major cytologic abnormalities by anatomic site of origin of the specimens.

Falcon adenovirus infection in breeding Taita falcons (Falco fasciinucha).

Four female and 3 male Taita falcons (Falco fasciinucha) out of a breeding colony of 14 Taita falcons (7 pairs) died during the breeding season after showing lethargy and anorexia for 1 to 2 days. All animals were submitted for necropsy. Gross lesions in the female falcons were characterized by anemia secondary to marked hemorrhage into the ovary and oviduct, serofibrinous effusion into the cardioabdominal cavity and serosal petechiae. In addition, marked necrotizing splenitis and pulmonary hemorrhage were present. Histologically, the female falcons had mild necrotizing hepatitis with numerous intranuclear inclusion bodies and necrotizing splenitis with rare inclusion bodies. There were no gross lesions in the male falcons, and the histological lesions were characterized by urate deposition and rare intranuclear inclusion bodies in the renal tubular epithelial cells. Adenoviral particles were found by electron microscopy in the cloacal contents of the female Taita falcons but not in the male falcons. DNA in situ hybridization revealed widespread aviadenoviral nucleic acid within the nuclei of hepatocytes, renal tubular epithelial cells, and adrenal cells in the female falcons but no aviadenoviral nucleic acid in 1 male falcon and only a low quantity of adenoviral nucleic acid in the liver and kidney of another male Taita falcon. PCR amplified aviadenoviral DNA in the liver and intestine of all Taita falcons. The amplicons were sequenced, and the virus was identified as falcon adenovirus. The deaths of the female and male birds were attributed to the aviadenovirus infection.

Lymphoid follicular cloacal inflammation associated with a novel herpesvirus in juvenile alligators (Alligator mississippiensis).

Multifocal hyperemic nodules and plaques associated with the cloacal mucosa of juvenile alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) at a public aquarium were investigated. Grossly, pale pink to dark red multifocal, circular lesions of varying degrees of severity were identified on the cloacal and, in males, phallus mucosa. Cloacal mucosa biopsies were obtained from 2 of the alligators. These samples were examined histologically and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using consensus primers targeting a conserved region of the herpesvirus polymerase gene. Microscopically, the lesions were characterized as submucosal lymphoid follicles with hyperemia and hemorrhage. No inclusion bodies were observed. Minimal to no anisokaryosis was present, and no etiologic agents were identified. Through PCR, a band consistent in size with herpesvirus was observed. Tissues showing similar clinical, histopathologic, and PCR findings were collected from animals at an alligator farm several months later. Sequencing of the PCR amplicon resulted in a 180-base pair sequence that shared 85% sequence identity with tortoise herpesvirus-1.

Variation among pathologists in histologic grading of canine cutaneous mast cell tumors.

Ten veterinary pathologists at 1 veterinary institution independently assigned histologic grades to the same 60 canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (MCTs). There was significant variation among pathologists in grading the MCTs (P < 0.001). The probability of assigning a low grade was significantly higher for the pathologists in this study who use a published reference for histologic grading of canine cutaneous MCTs that allows subcutaneous MCTs or MCTs with mitotic figures to be included in the low-grade category (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively).

Undifferentiated sarcoma resolved by forelimb amputation and prosthesis in a radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata).

An adult female, radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata) presented with a grossly swollen left forelimb that restricted mobility and prevented limb withdrawal. Clinical pathology revealed leukopenia (1.9 x 10(9)/L) and hyperproteinemia (69 g/L) that on protein electrophoresis was attributed to increased acute-phase proteins in the alpha fraction (26.4 g/L). Biopsy revealed a poorly differentiated soft tissue sarcoma. Surgical amputation at the proximal humerus was curative. To encourage postoperative mobility, a novel methylmethacrylate prosthesis, molded from a lubricated transected tennis ball, was adhered to the plastron using three cortical bone screws. This is the first recorded case of a sarcoma in the genus Geochelone.

Immunotherapy for treatment of multicentric cutaneous pythiosis in a dog.

A 4-year-old Labrador Retriever was referred for evaluation of 2 ulcerative nodular cutaneous lesions. One lesion was located on the medial aspect of the right carpus; the other was located on the medial aspect of the left tarsus. The dog had spent its entire life in the southeastern part of the United States and approximately half of its time outdoors with free access to a nearby lake. Histologic examination of full-thickness wedge biopsy specimens from both lesions revealed severe, multifocal, puruloeosinophilic to pyogranulomatous deep dermatitis with intralesional filamentous structures, fibroplasia, and neovascularization. Examination of sections stained with Gomori methenamine silver stain revealed a moderate number of wide, bulbous, irregularly septate, branching hyphae. Results of an immunodiffusion test and an ELISA for anti-Pythium insidiosum antibodies were positive. Amputation was eliminated as a treatment option because lesions involved 2 limbs. Long-term systemic antifungal treatment was also rejected because of the cost, lack of therapeutic effect in many cases, and potential for adverse effects. The dog was treated with 2 doses of an anti-P insidiosum vaccine administered 2 weeks apart. One month later, the lesions were nearly completely healed, and values obtained via the immunodiffusion test and ELISA had decreased. Results of the immunodiffusion test and ELISA were negative 1 year later, and the dog had not had any recurrences.

Investigation of parrot papillomavirus in cloacal and oral papillomas of psittacine birds.

Cloacal and oral papillomas from 27 psittacine birds of various species were examined for the presence of parrot papillomavirus by DNA in situ hybridization, DNA in situ polymerase chain reaction, and nested polymerase chain reaction. Parrot papillomavirus was detected in one oral papilloma from an African grey parrot by all three techniques. In addition, rare basophilic intranuclear inclusions were observed by light microscopy in tissue sections of the oral papilloma from this parrot. The remaining lesions were negative for parrot papillomavirus DNA. This study suggests that parrot papillomavirus may be involved in the development of papillomas in African grey parrots, but apparently is not responsible for development of similar lesions in unrelated species of psittacine birds.

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection in a cat: presumptive diagnosis by blood smear examination.

Disseminated mycobacteriosis was diagnosed in a 4-year-old, castrated male Domestic Shorthair cat following the observation of one to three retractile, non-staining bacilli in neutrophils and monocytes on a Wright-Leishman-stained blood smear Organisms were bright red following acid-fast staining by Kinyoun's technique. The cat had a history of progressive weight loss, anemia, fever, and sporadic vomiting after eating. In addition to blood smears, mycobacteria also were observed in bone marrow aspirates. During necropsy, multiple small white nodules were observed in the spleen and liver. An enlarged sternal lymph node and ascites also were present. In histologic sections, mycobacteria were observed in granulomas within the lungs, liver, spleen, colon, mesenteric and sternal lymph nodes, omentum, and kidney. Mycobacterium avium complex was isolated from cultures of liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. Occult feline leukemia virus infection, detected by immunofluorescent testing of bone marrow aspirates, may have predisposed this cat to bacterial infection. The serum ELISA test for group-specific feline leukemia virus antigen was negative.