Bronchogenic adenocarcinoma in a hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus).

An adult female hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) was presented for sudden onset of severe weakness in the legs. Neurologic examination revealed bilateral paresis of the pelvic limbs and decreased proprioception. Results of radiographs and computed tomography (CT) revealed variably sized soft tissue nodules throughout the lungs and invading into the spine and vertebral canal. Soon after the CT scan, the bird went into cardiorespiratory arrest and died. At necropsy, several yellow, coalescing nodules that were firm with a caseous component were present in the lungs, and a focus of similar tissue was attached to the vertebrae and invaded the spinal canal. On histologic examination, the diagnosis was primary pulmonary bronchial adenocarcinoma with spinal invasion.

Clinicopathologic findings associated with Lagenidium sp. infection in 6 dogs: initial description of an emerging oomycosis.

An oomycotic pathogen in the genus Lagenidium was isolated from tissues obtained from 6 dogs with progressive cutaneous disease. Initial clinical findings in 5 dogs included multifocal cutaneous lesions, subcutaneous lesions, or both associated with regional lymphadenopathy: the 6th dog initially was presented for evaluation of mandibular lymphadenopathy. Cutaneous lesions were ulcerated, exudative regions (often with necrosis and draining tracts) or multiple firm dermal or subcutaneous nodules. Two dogs subsequently developed hemoabdomen from great vessel rupture and died acutely. Four dogs were euthanized because of progression of subcutaneous lesions or lymphadenopathy. On postmortem examination, regional granulomatous lymphadenitis was found in all 6 dogs, great vessel invasion in 3 dogs, pulmonary lesions in 2 dogs. ureteral obstruction in 1 dog, mediastinal lymphadenitis in 1 dog, and hilar lymphadenitis with invasion of the distal esophagus and trachea in 1 dog. Histologically, lesions were similar to those associated with pythiosis and zygomycosis and were characterized by severe eosinophilic granulomatous inflammation (often with numerous large multinucleated giant cells) centered around broad (7-25 micro), infrequently septate hyphae. Immunoblot analysis of the serologic response of 4 dogs to a soluble mycelial extract of Lagenidium giganteum indicated that each dog's serum recognized at least 10 different antigens of L. giganteum. Culture of infected tissues yielded rapid growth of colorless to white submerged colonies. Microscopically, mature hyphae in culture were broad (25-40 micro), segmented, and occasionally branching and produced motile laterally biflagellate zoospores in water culture. This report is the 1st description of infection caused by an oomycete other than Pythium insidiosum in any mammalian species.

Experimental Reproduction of Feline Mycobacterium fortuitum Panniculitis.

Resumen- Con el fin de lograr un modelo experimental de la infección por Mycobacterium fortuitum, causante de paniculitis en condiciones naturales en el gato, se inoculóM. fortuitum en el cojinte plantar de ratones o en el tejido adiposo inguinal de conejos y gatos. Los ratones manifestaron una dermatitis crónica y una linfadenitis granulomatosa necrotizante con localizatión intracelular del microorganismo. Los conejos manifestaron inflamaciones granulomatosas supurativas necrotizantes con microrganismos en vacuolas adiposas rodeadas por heterófilos macrófagos epitelioides y/o zonas de necrosis. Los cinco gatos adultos y una de las tres crias mostraron fistulas supurativas, úlceras puntuales o nódulos en el paniculo adiposo de la zona inguinal. La lesión en la región inguinal de estos seis animales consistia en una paniculitis granulomatosa; las otras dos crias presentaban una paniculitis piogranulomatosa necrotizante. Se identificaron bacilos en los cortes histológicos teñidos con Hematoxilina y Eosina en cuatro gatos adultos y en una de las crias. Se aislóMycobacterium fortunitum a partir del tejido adiposo en todos los gatos adultos y en una de las tres crias. La inoculación de 1.4 × 1010 M.fortuitum en el tejido adiposo subcutáneo inguinal en los gatos con grandes masas grasas en esas zonas causó una infección microbacteriana idéntica a la enfermedad felina en condiciones naturales. [Lewis, D. T., Hodgin, E. C, Foil, C. S., Cox, H. U., Roy, A. F., Lewis, D. D. Experimental reproduction of feline Mycobacterium fortuitum panniculitis. (Reproductión experimental de la paniculitis felina por Mycobacterium fortuitum). Abstract- In order to establish an animal model of the naturally occurring feline Mycobacterium fortuitum panniculitis an inoculum of M. fortuitum organisms was injected into the hindlimb footpad of mice or subcutaneous fat of the inguinal area of rabbits and cats. Mice developed chronic dermatitis and necrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis with intracellular localization of the organism. Rabbits developed necrotizing suppurative granulomatous inflammation with organisms in heterophil-lined fat vacuoles, epithelioid macrophages and/or necrotic areas. All five adult cats and one of three kittens developed draining tracts, punctate ulcers or nodules in the panniculus adiposus of the inguinal area. A pyogranulomatous panniculitis characterized the inguinal region in these six animals; a necrotizing pyogranulomatous panniculitis was present in the remaining two kittens. Rod-shaped bacilli were present on hematoxylin and eosin stained tissue sections in four adult cats and one kitten. Mycobacterium fortuitum was isolated from the inguinal subcutaneous fat in all five adult cats and one of three kittens. Injection of 1.4 × 1010 M. fortuitum organisms into the subcutaneous fat of the inguinal area of cats with extensive inguinal fatpads produced a mycobacterial infection identical to the naturally occurring feline disease.