Type C retroviral expression in spontaneous feline olfactory neuroblastomas

Abstract

Three cases of spontaneous olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) in domestic cats were morphologically and immunocytochemically characterized. Diagnostic light microscopic features included Flexner and Homer-Wright rosettes, while ultrastructurally the cells had neuritic processes, intracellular intermediate filaments, and intercellular junctions. Immunocytochemically, the tumors stained positively for neuron-specific enolase, cytokeratins, and S-100 protein antigens. In each case, a key finding was the identification of numerous mature type C retroviral particles within the tumors. In one case, budding of viral particles from the plasmalemma of tumor cells suggested the source of mature particles. This cat and one other were tested, and both were serologically positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV). The virus in the tumors was identified as FeLV by polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry. No other neoplasms were found in any of the cats, nor was there similar evidence of active viral infection in other non-tumor tissues, including the brain. Although the relationship between FeLV infection and ONB is uncertain, our findings indicate that FeLV should be investigated as an etiologic agent of ONB.

Facial nerve ganglioneuroblastoma in a feline leukemia virus-positive cat

“…SCHRENZEL et al (1990) identified viral particles in three cats with olfactory neuroblastoma that, through IHC, demonstrated an immunoreaction in the cytoplasm of neoplastic cells for FeLV, similar to what was observed in our case. The mechanism by which the virus causes neuroblastoma development has not yet been elucidated (SCHRENZEL et al, 1990). However, the detection of viral particles in neoplastic cells indicated a possible role of FeLV in the origin of these tumors.…”

Esthesioneuroblastoma: a meta-analysis and review

“…These were supplemented by another 19 relevant publications found in references cited. 4,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] The studies were divided into three types, according to their principal objectives: origin and aetiology of ENB, 9,11,15,[17][18][19]21,24,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] histopathological diagnosis; 10,[12][13][14]23,37,[41][42][43][44]…”

Peripheral Neuroblastoma and Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor in Japanese Black Cattle.

“…Since the cranial vault and nasopharynx were severely involved with tumor in Case 1, there is a possibility that neoplastic cells were derived from olfactory sensory cells called as olfactory neuroblastoma [1,4,14,17]. However, the distribution of the tumor mass in Case 1 is quite different.…”

“…In general, neuroblastomas including medulloblastomas in the central nervous system, are very rare in domestic animals [6]. In the peripheral nervous system, few cases of neuroblastomas in the adrenal medulla, sympathetic ganglia, or nasal cavity (aesthesioneuroblastomas) have been reported in several animal species [1,3,4,6,11,14]. Cordy [3] reported that peripheral neuroblastomas analogous to human in situ neuroblastomas, were often found in adult slaughter cattle and malignant neuroblastomas were seen in premature or stillborn calves and in dogs of all ages [6].…”