Diffuse Intestinal T-cell Lymphosarcoma in a Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrot (Amazona Ochrocephala Auropalliata)

Abstract

Abstract.A 10-year-old, intact, female yellow-naped Amazon parrot (Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata) was examined because of anemia, lymphocytic leukocytosis, regurgitation, and weight loss. A positive fecal occult blood and monoclonal globulinopathy were present. A distended proventriculus and diffusely thickened loops of small intestine with irregular luminal surfaces were identified with contrast radiography and contrast computed tomography. A micro positron emission tomography scan was performed with 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose. Diffuse intestinal T-cell lymphosarcoma was diagnosed based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry of full thickness small intestinal biopsies. The patient was treated with a multidrug chemotherapy protocol with little to no effect. Euthanasia was elected, and intestinal lymphosarcoma was confirmed on histopathology of necropsy intestinal samples; no other organs demonstrated neoplastic infiltration. To the authors' knowledge, no reports are currently available detailing the clinical presentation or diagnosis of diffuse intestinal T-cell lymphosarcoma in any avian species.

Intestinal Undifferentiated Carcinoma in a Red-Crowned Crane (<i>Grus japonensis</i>)

“…Previously, diffuse intestinal T-cell lymphoma in a yellow-naped Amazon parroto has been reported. It showed diffusely and markedly distending mucosal membrane, similar to the present case, and immunohistochemistry with CD3 in the control tissue and neoplastic cells were successful [17]. This finding supports our results since the normal lymphocytes also stained with CD3, but the tumor cells were negative in our case.…”

“…Although intestinal adenocarcinomas have been well documented in humans [4], dogs and cats [5,9,14], only a few reports have described intestinal undifferentiated carcinoma in humans [4,11,12,15] and there is a little information about it in dogs and cats [5,9,14]. Several cases of primary intestinal tumors have been reported in avian species, including adenocarcinoma [2,8,18,19], leiomyosarcoma [16] and lymphosarcoma [17]. To our knowledge, there is no literature on undifferentiated carcinoma in the avian intestinal tract.…”

“…Immunohistochemistry with several antibodies, including anti-cytokeratin, NSE and CD3, has been performed for tumor diagnosis in birds [10,13,17]. In humans and domestic animals, the antibodies to chromogranin A, synaptophysin and NSE are helpful to distinguish with neuroendocrine carcinoma [4,9].…”

T-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in a Double Yellow-headed Amazon Parrot (Amazona ochrocephala oratrix)

“…15 There are several case reports in which immunophenotyping was used to diagnose T-cell lymphoid neoplasia in a variety of nonpoultry avian species. [15][16][17][18][19] Likewise, there have been several case reports in which leukemia has been present associated with a lymphoid neoplasm. 9,15,[20][21][22][23][24] Of these reports, only one bird was diagnosed with T-cell CLL, a 32-year-old male green-winged macaw (Ara chloroptera).…”

“…25 Immunophenotyping has been used in many of the case reports on nondomestic avian species with lymphoma but has generally not been validated for use in those species. [16][17][18][19]21,26 For example, B-lymphocyte antigen antibodies (BLA.36) were used to diagnose B-cell neoplasia in 2 umbrella cockatoos (Cacatua alba). 21,26 In another case report of T-cell intestinal lymphosarcoma in a yellow-naped Amazon parrot (Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata), CD79a and BLA.36 expression were not seen in control psittacine-bird splenic tissue or neoplastic tissue, whereas CD3 staining was found in both.…”