Maxillary lymphosarcoma in a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Presumptive Primary Cerebral T-Cell Lymphoma in a White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas are rare in humans and even more uncommon in animals. We report the clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical features of a presumptive primary cerebral T-cell lymphoma (PCTCL) in an aged female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) that had chronic progressive neurological disease characterized by ataxia, claudication and eventual circling. The animal was euthanized due to poor prognosis. Grossly, a 2.5 cm dark red, friable nodule effaced the cortical neuroparenchyma of the left anterior cingulate cortex (LACC). Microscopically, the meningeal vasculature and adjacent grey and white matter cortical neuroparenchyma of the LACC were infiltrated by a poorly demarcated, unencapsulated and densely cellular round cell neoplasm with a consistent angiocentric pattern. The neoplasm was associated with extensive regions of haemorrhage and liquefactive necrosis. Neoplastic cells immunolabelled for CD3 antigen and had high proliferative activity, as indicated by Ki-67 labelling. Based on the cytohistomorphological and immunohistochemical features and absence of metastasis, a diagnosis of PCTCL was determined. This case indicates that PCTCL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neurological disease and intracranial, intra-axial CNS masses in deer.

Pigmented tumors in fallow deer ( Dama dama): 11 cases

Pigmented tumors have been reported infrequently in captive deer. We document herein the clinical progression and gross and histopathologic features of pigmented tumors diagnosed as melanoma and pigmented schwannoma in 11 white fallow deer ( Dama dama). Affected animals were part of a captive herd maintained at a drive-through park in southern Oregon and were 5-17 y of age during the study period (2004-2013). Primary lesion locations included periocular, perineal, and neck tissues, with cutaneous and internal metastases later identified at autopsy in some cases of malignant melanoma. Diagnoses included 7 malignant melanomas, 2 benign melanomas, and 2 pigmented schwannomas. Diagnosis of melanoma was based on typical histomorphologic features, and final diagnosis of pigmented schwannomas was based on histomorphologic features with negative staining for melan A and positive staining for laminin. Metastasis was found in 3 of 7 cases diagnosed as malignant melanoma; 2 had extensive pulmonary involvement and resulted in euthanasia of the animal; 1 animal developed eyelid and ear lesions that also resulted in euthanasia.

Primary B-Cell Lymphoma of Submandibular Lymph Node in a Water Deer ( Hydropotes inermis )

We describe a B-cell lymphoma of a submandibular lymph node with metastasis to the lung and facial subcutaneous tissues in a water deer ( Hydropotes inermis ). Neoplastic cells contained pleomorphic lymphocytes that were positive for CD79a, consistent with B-cell lymphoma. PCR for bovine leukemia virus was negative.