Intramedullary lumbosacral teratoma in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Abstract

Teratomas are germ cell neoplasms derived from 2 or more of the totipotential cell lines (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm). 5 The gonads are the most common location for development of teratomas in human beings and animals; however, these tumors can also develop at extragonadal locations, usually along the midline axis of the body. 5,13 Extragonadal teratomas have been infrequently reported in wild and domestic animals involving cutaneous structures, the alimentary tract, the kidneys, and retroperitoneal space, as well as other systems. 2,8,15,21 Descriptions of teratomas of the central nervous system are rare in both human beings and animals.17 Spinal teratomas in human beings are more common in pediatric patients, in whom they are typically observed in the sacrococcygeal region. 10,11,17 These tumors tend to be cystic, extradural structures localized proximal to the sacrum. In contrast, teratomas of the spinal cord in adults are usually found in the thoracolumbar spine. 17 Intraspinal teratomas account for 3%-9% of all intraspinal tumors in children, and although it is not possible to determine their incidence in domestic animals, reports of these conditions are exceedingly rare. 4 A recent report described a cervical spinal cord teratoma in a Giant Schnauzer and summarized the literature on canine intraspinal teratomas. 25In the ferret, teratomas have been described in the ovaries, uterus, and adrenal glands (Williams B: 1996, Bilateral adrenal teratomas in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo). Vet Pathol 33:587. Abstract). 3,19,24 The current report describes the clinical, radiographic, and microscopic features of an intramedullary teratoma in a domestic ferret.An 18-month old, female, spayed domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) weighing 415 g presented to the University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine (UWVMTH; Madison, Wisconsin) with a 2-week history of anorexia and lethargy. The ferret was fed a commercial ferret diet and lived in a large cage with 6 other ferrets. The owners reported that 1 week prior to presentation, the ferret seemed weak in the hind legs and could no longer climb. The ferret had been examined by the referring veterinarian (RDVM) 5 days prior to presentation for diarrhea, which coincided with the onset of hind limb paresis. The results of a plasma biochemistry panel determined by the RDVM were consistent with a mild hypoalbuminemia (2.6 g/dl, reference interval: 3.4-4.8 g/dl) and mild hyperglobulinemia (3.2 g/dl, reference interval: 0.2-2.4 g/dl). The results of a complete blood cell count (CBC) were unremarkable. The RDVM prescribed metronidazole (22 mg/kg orally every 12 hr) for the diarrhea. Despite medical therapy, there was no significant improvement in clinical signs, and the ataxia progressed.On presentation to the UWVMTH, the ferret was alert and mentally appropriate but small for its age and cachexic (body condition score of 1.5/9), with pronounced generalized muscle wasting. The perineal skin was hyperemic and wet from urine scalding, and the anus was swollen...

Congenital Abnormalities of the Vertebral Column in Ferrets

“…The popularity of ferrets as companion animals has increased rapidly in the last several years, and they are now one of the most popular species of pets in the United States . Pathologies of the vertebral column potentially requiring surgery have been described in pet ferrets . Exact anatomic localization is required for vertebral column surgery; however, published numbers of vertebrae in the axial skeleton of ferrets differ in the literature.…”

“…4 Pathologies of the vertebral column potentially requiring surgery have been described in pet ferrets. 5,6 Exact anatomic localization is required for vertebral column surgery; however, published numbers of vertebrae in the axial skeleton of ferrets differ in the literature. Published numbers of vertebrae in the cervical (C7), sacral (S3), and caudal (Cd18) seg-ments are consistent, but there is a variability in the number of vertebrae in the thoracic (Th14-Th15) and lumbar (L5-L7) segments.…”

Invasive histiocytic sarcoma of the lumbar spine in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

“…There are only a few case reports concerning spinal ­neoplasia in ferrets, including plasma cell myeloma (Methiyapun et al ), teratoma (Keller et al ), osteoma (Perpiñán et al ), fibrosarcoma (Ohta et al ), T‐cell lymphoma (Hanley et al ) and chordoma (Williams et al , Pye et al ). To our knowledge, HS has not previously been reported in the vertebral column of a ferret.…”