Rhabdoid melanoma in a harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja)

Abstract

A 28-year-old male harpy eagle ( Harpia harpyja ) with a history of anorexia, hyporexia, lethargy, and progressive weight loss was found dead and submitted for post-mortem examination. Gross findings include dark brown discolouration of testes and lungs; the testes were bilaterally enlarged, glistening brown-grey to blackish in appearance, firm, smooth, and multilobulated. The lungs contained a mass with similar features to the testicles, irregularly shaped with multiple nodules. Histology of testis showed round, polygonal and pleomorphic cells, containing melanin pigments and a typical eosinophilic vacuole in their cytoplasm and with severe pleomorphism. An immunohistochemistry panel with Melan-A, vimentin, CK AE1/AE/3, MUM-1 and CD-68 were performed, yielding a positive reaction for Melan-A and vimentin. The morphology of the tumour cells, the presence of melanin pigment and the immunoreactivity for Melan-A and vimentin by the cells led to a diagnosis of rhabdoid melanoma. This is the first case of this pathology in the testis with lung metastasis in a harpy eagle.

Iridial melanocytoma in a ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis): A case report and review of avian melanocytic neoplasia

“…The small number of avian species diagnosed with melanocytic neoplasms has resulted in relatively little understanding of how these diseases progress in birds. Table 1 provides an overview of published descriptions of melanocytic neoplasms in birds 10–29 . The literature review for this table yielded no description of ocular melanocytic neoplasms in avian species.…”

“…Table 1 provides an overview of published descriptions of melanocytic neoplasms in birds. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] The literature review for this table yielded no description of ocular melanocytic neoplasms in avian species. However, the cases sited in Table 1 indicate that the most common melanocytic neoplasms in avian species occur in cutaneous tissues.…”

“…Documented cases of avian melanocytic neoplasia [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. …”