Results
AFIP Wednesday Slide Conference - No. 24
- 16 April 1997
-
- Conference Moderator: Dr. Anne L. Kincaid
Diplomate, ACVP
Antech Diagnostics
8831 Satyr Hill Road
Carney, MD 21234
- Return to WSC Case Menu
-
Case I - 96-599 (AFIP 2565887)
Signalment: Young adult female Hartley guinea pig.
-
- History: This guinea pig was a control animal in a
blast overpressure study. Approximately 39% of the guinea pigs
in this study had similar hepatic lesions.
-
- Gross Pathology: White streaks were present on the
capsular surface of affected livers.
-
- Laboratory Results: N/A
-
- Contributor's Diagnosis and Comments: Liver: Hepatocytic
mineralization, multifocal, random, moderate, with multifocal
necrosis and hemorrhage.
- Metastatic calcification has been reported in the guinea
pig. Clinical signs may include unthriftiness and apparent muscle
stiffness. Affected tissues have included lung, trachea, heart,
aorta, liver, kidney, stomach, colon, uterus, sclera, and soft
tissues around the elbows and ribs. The pathogenesis of the syndrome
in guinea pigs is unclear, although dietary mineral imbalances
have been implicated. Studies suggest that lowering the ratio
of magnesium to calcium and phosphorus may be more critical than
the level of any one mineral.
- The cause of hemorrhage seen in these livers may be related
to the more friable nature of the mineralized tissue.
- AFIP Diagnosis:
- 1. Liver: Mineralization, midzonal and multifocal, moderate,
with multifocal coagulative necrosis, Hartley guinea pig, rodent.
2. Liver, hepatocytes: Vacuolar change (lipid type), periportal
to midzonal, diffuse, mild.
-
- Conference Note: The conference participants agreed
with the contributor's diagnosis and comments. Metastatic calcification
occurs most often in guinea pigs over 1 year of age. Dietary
factors such as low magnesium and high phosphorous and calcium
intake have been implicated in this syndrome. High calcium or
high phosphorous diets appear to interfere with magnesium absorption
and metabolism. Therefore, this syndrome may not be the result
of a deficiency of a single component but rather due to a dietary
imbalance of magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous.
-
- Contributor: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research,
Washington, D.C. 20307- 5100.
-
- References:
1. Galloway JH, et al: Relationship of diet and age to metastatic
calcification of guinea pigs. Lab An Care 14:6-12, 1964.
- 2. Maynard LA: Dietary mineral interrelations as a cause
of soft tissue calcification in guinea pigs. J Nutr 64:85-97,
1958.
- 3. Morris ER and O'Dell BL: Relationship of excess calcium
and phosphorus to magnesium requirement and toxicity in guinea
pigs. J Nutr 81:175-727, 1963.
- 3. O'Dell BL, et al: Diet composition and mineral balance
in guinea pigs. J Nutr 63:65-77.
- 4. Percy DH and Barthold SW: Pathology of Laboratory Rodents
and Rabbits, p. 168, Iowa State University Press, 1993.
- 5. Sparschu GL and Christie RJ: Metastatic calcification
in a guinea pig colony: A pathological survey. Lab An Care 18(5):520-526,
1968.
-
- International Veterinary Pathology Slide Bank: None.
-
-
Case II - W501/96 (AFIP 2551735)
- Signalment: 7-month-old Jack Russell, crossbreed,
female dog.
-
- History: Vomiting and depressed, with a normal appetite,
for one week. Vomit comprises white froth which is sometimes
bile stained. Two days ago developed tender soft tissue swellings
in the region of the submandibular salivary glands.
-
- Gross Pathology: Oedema of soft tissue overlying the
salivary glands was noted at surgery; the salivary glands were
firm with a "blotchy" grey-green discoloration.
-
- Laboratory Results: None.
-
- Contributor's Diagnosis and Comments: Acute to subacute
idiopathic salivary gland necrosis.
- Subtotal to total apparently ischemic necrosis of the mandibular
salivary glands in the characteristic histologic finding in a
sporadic disease of terrier-type dogs, notably of the Jack Russell
breed. Originally described as salivary gland infarction, the
term "necrotizing sialometaplasia" has been adopted
from human medicine. However, unlike the situation in dogs, in
people necrotizing sialometaplasia generally affects the intraoral
minor salivary glands and also, in our experience, ductal metaplasia
has not been a distinctive feature of the canine lesion.
- In subtotally affected glands, the margin between affected
and unaffected tissue is delineated by a band of fibro-vascular
tissue accompanied by a mild infiltrate of inflammatory cells.
- Although presumably vascular in origin, the precise etiology
and pathogenesis of this condition are unknown.
-
- AFIP Diagnosis: Salivary gland, mandibular: Necrosis,
coagulative, diffuse, with multifocal neovascularization and
rare multifocal squamous metaplasia of ductular epithelium, Jack
Russell Terrier, canine.
-
- Conference Note: Necrotizing sialometaplasia (NS)
is a rare, distinctive disease of the salivary glands reported
in humans and, more recently, dogs. Histologic findings in humans
and dogs are somewhat similar but the distribution of affected
glands and clinical course are very different. In humans, NS
is a benign self-limiting ischemic disorder of the salivary glands
which has histologic features that have caused confusion with
neoplasia. The characteristic histologic findings are ischemic
necrosis of salivary lobules and secondary squamous metaplasia
of salivary ducts. The palatine glands are most commonly affected.
- Salivary gland infarction / NS has been reported in at least
six small breed dogs which included the Jack Russell Terrier,
Wirehaired Fox Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, and Pomeranian.
In contrast to the disease in humans, canine salivary gland infarction
/ NS affects the submandibular salivary gland and has much more
severe clinical signs. Affected dogs appear to be in extreme
pain and vomit frequently. Sialoadenectomy of affected glands
results in little if any improvement, while sialoadenectomy followed
by short-term administration of an anticonvulsant appears to
be an effective treatment.
- The Department of Otolaryngic Pathology reviewed this case.
They do not consider the histologic findings consistent with
necrotizing sialometaplasia because there is no true replacement
of acinar tissue by well developed squamous metaplasia. They
commented that this might represent an early stage of developing
NS.
- Given the clinical and pathologic differences between the
human and canine diseases, it might be best to retain different
names for the conditions: necrotizing sialometaplasia for the
human disease and salivary gland infarction for the canine disease.
-
- Contributor: The University of Melbourne, Veterinary
Clinical Centre, Werribee, 3030 Australia.
-
- References:
1. Kelly DF, Lucke VM, Denny HR, Lane JF: Histology of salivary
gland infarction in the dog. Vet Pathol 16:438-443, 1979.
- 2. Brooks DG, Hottinger HA, Dunstan RW (1995) Canine necrotizing
sialometaplasia: a case report and review of the literature.
JAAHA 31:21-25, 1995.
- 3. Wenig BM: Necrotizing sialometaplasia of the larynx. Am
J Comp Pathol 103:609-613.
- 4. Spangler WL, Culbertson MR: Salivary gland disease in
dogs and cats: 245 cases (1985-1988). JAVMA 198(3):465-469, 1991.
-
- International Veterinary Pathology Slide Bank: None.
-
-
Case III - UFSM #2 (AFIP 2559048)
- Signalment: 8-month-old, Charolais cross, male, bovine.
-
- History: Rapidly growing mass noticed on the scapular
region for the last 40 days. The steer showed marked weight loss.
The mass was surgically removed but the animal was eventually
euthanatized due to its poor body condition.
-
- Gross Pathology: A 50 x 23 x 8 cm, firm, cream-white
mass was submitted for histological evaluation. At the cut surface
the mass had a fibrous firm aspect with whitish hard foci (foci
of mineralization) scattered throughout.
-
- Laboratory Results: Bacteriological examination of
the mass yielded pure culture of Pasteurella granulomatis.
-
- Contributor's Diagnosis and Comments: Subcutis, focal
proliferative fibrogranulomatous panniculitis.
-
- Etiology: Pasteurella granulomatis.
-
- The slides show the typical histological features of bovine
focal proliferative fibrogranulomatous panniculitis (Lechiguana).
There is a mass of well-vascularized dense fibrous connective
tissue with multifocal areas of calcification and with several
scattered myofibers entrapped within the mass. Lymphatic are
distended by eosinophils, and eosinophilic microabscesses are
found scattered within the connective tissue. The microabscesses
have rosette-like (Splendore Hoeppli phenomenon) structures in
their centers and occasionally are surrounded by a small rim
of epithelioid cells. Gram-negative coccobacilli are seen in
the centers of the rosettes.
Bovine focal proliferative fibrogranulomatous panniculitis (Lechiguana)
is a disease affecting cattle in southern Brazil and is characterized
by rapidly growing, large solitary subcutaneous swellings occurring
mostly over the scapula or adjacent areas. Both sexes and several
breeds of cattle are affected. Ages of affected cattle vary from
1 to 10 years (average 4-5 years). The correlation between the
distribution of lesions of Lechiguana and those caused by Dermatobia
hominis suggests that this parasite may have a role in transmitting
or initiating the disease. Histologically, the subcutaneous mass
consists of well vascularized mature connective tissue, multifocally
calcified and infiltrated by numerous eosinophils and lesser
numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils. Numerous
microabscesses composed mainly of eosinophils are found within
the connective tissue. The mass extends into adjacent skeletal
muscle destroying myofibers; scattered myofibers are found entrapped
within the connective tissue mass. Lymphatics within the mass
are dilated and filled with eosinophils. Bacteria can be seen
in these lymphatics in sections stained by appropriate techniques
(Geimsa and Steiner's). It appears that this eosinophilic lymphangitis
evolves to micro- abscesses formed mainly by eosinophils in the
centers of which there is formation of rosette-like structures
with eosinophilic projections (clubs) at the periphery. In the
centers of the rosettes, there are gram-negative bacilli or coccobacilli.
Microabscesses are occasionally surrounded by a thin layer of
epithelioid cells. Similar lesions are found in the regional
lymph nodes.
-
- AFIP Diagnosis: Subcutis and skeletal muscle: Panniculitis
and myositis, fibrosing, chronic-active, diffuse, severe, with
multifocal eosinophilic microabscesses, Splendore Hoeppli material,
bacterial colonies and mineralization, Charolais cross, bovine.
-
- Conference Note: The conference participants agreed
with the contributor's diagnosis.
-
- Contributor: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,
Departamento de Patologia, 97119-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
-
- Reference:
Riet-Correa F, Méndez MC, Schild AL, Ribeiro GA, Almeida
SM: Bovine focal proliferative fibrogranulomatous panniculitis
(Lechiguana) associated with Pasteurella granulomatis. Vet Pathol
29:93-103, 1992.
-
- International Veterinary Pathology Slide Bank: None.
-
-
Case IV - 2274/96 (AFIP 2565964)
Signalment: Black crake (Limnocorax flavirostra), male,
subadult.
-
- History: A subadult, male black crake died unexpectedly
at the Basle Zoo.
-
- Gross Pathology: At necropsy, the crake was cachectic.
Disseminated white, raised, firm, well circumscribed nodules,
1 to 3 mm in diameter, were noted throughout the lung parenchyma.
No lesions were seen in other tissues.
-
- Laboratory Results: Bacteriological investigation
revealed a severe infection with Nocardia sp. in liver, spleen,
kidney and lung. Parasitological investigation was negative.
-
- Contributor's Diagnosis and Comments: Morphologic
diagnosis: Pneumonia, granulomatous and necrotizing, severe with
beaded, branching filamentous organisms.
-
- Etiologic diagnosis: Nocardiosis.
-
- Histologically, the lungs had multiple, often confluent,
granulomas with moderate to severe central necrosis. The necrotic
center was surrounded by a margin composed of heterophils, macrophages,
lymphocytes, and some multinucleated giant cells. Various numbers
of delicate, gram positive, 0.5 to 1.0 m wide, branching, occasionally
beaded, filamentous organisms were visible in the necrotic centers.
These organisms were acid-fast with the Fite-Faraco method, but
not with the Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast stain. No histologic lesions
were recognized in other organs.
- Natural nocardial infection has been reported in dogs, cats,
cattle, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, monkeys, dolphins, whales,
fishes, birds and in man. Reports in birds are uncommon; whether
nocardiosis is actually a very rare disease entity birds, or
has just been poorly recognized, is not known. In the past, Nocardia
has been often confused with Mycobacterium, Actinomyces and Streptomyces
infections in both animal and man.
-
- AFIP Diagnosis: Lung: Pneumonia, necrotizing, granulomatous,
multifocal to coalescing, severe, with necrotizing vasculitis
and filamentous bacilli, black crake (Limnocorax flavirostra),
avian.
- Conference: The conference participants agreed with the contributor's
diagnosis and comments. Calcific bodies were also noted in many
of the sections examined. Calcific bodies are often found within
the caseated centers of granulomas, are readily stained with
H&E and the PAS reaction and resemble yeast-like cells. When
apposed, these bodies may look like budding yeast, and their
laminated structure creates the illusion of a thick cell wall
or capsule. Calcific bodies do not stain with GMS or Gridley's
stains.
-
- Nocardia sp. are gram-positive, non-motile, aerobic, filamentous
rods that are partially acid-fast. The organism is a saprophyte
and occurs commonly in soil and water. This bacterium is not
well demonstrated by H&E stains; the organism stains well
with Gram's stain, modified acid fast (Fite-Faraco or Cross-Coates
modifications), and by the GMS method. Three species are associated
with most animal disease: Nocardia asteroides (approximately
90% of cases); N. caviae; and N. brasiliensis.
Little information is available concerning the pathogenesis of
nocardiosis. The organisms may gain entry by wound contamination,
inhalation, or ingestion. Direct extension or hematogenous dissemination
may then occur. Cell mediated immunity is apparently critical
to control of infection. The glycolipid trehalose dimycolate
(cord factor) present within nocardial cell walls has been proposed
to play a major role in macrophage activation and release of
tumor necrosis factor, which are important in host resistance
to infection. In one study, injections of Nocardia rubra cell
wall skeleton into enlarged subcutaneous lymph nodes of bovine
leukemia virus positive cattle had an antitumor effect. N. asteroides
has been reported to both inhibit phagosome-lysosome fusion and
resist the microbicidal effects of neutrophils. Apparently, virulent
strains of this species are resistant to hydrogen peroxide, myeloperoxidase,
and halide through the production of superoxide dismutase and
catalase.
- Contributor: Institute of Animal Pathology, University of
Berne, P.O. Box 2735, CH 3001 Bern, Switzerland.
-
- References:
1. Parnell MJ, Hubbard GB, Fletchter KC and Schmidt RE: Nocardia
asteroidesInfection in a Purple-Throated Sunbird (Nectarinia
sperapa). Vet Pathol 20, 497-500, 1983.
- 2. Long P, Choi G, Silberman M: Nocardiosis in two Pesquet's
Parrots (Psittrichas fulgidus). Avian Dis 27(3):855-859, 1983.
- 3. Walton AM, Libke KG: Nocardiose bei Blauflügel-Königssittichen
(Alisterus amboinensis hypophonius). Schweiz Arch Tierheilk 121:195-200,
1979.
- 4. Bergmann A, Schüppel KF, and Kronberger H: Nocardiose
bei einem Türkisvogel (Cyanerpes cyaneus). Verh Ber Int
Symp Erkrank Zootiere 15:293-296, 1977.
5. Timoney JF: Hagen and Brunner's Microbiology and Infectious
Diseases of Domestic. Animals, Comstock Publishing, pp.267-269,
1988.
6. Gross TL; Ihrke PJ; Walder EJ: Veterinary Dermatopathology
Mosby YearBook, Inc., pp. 163-166, 1992.
- 7. Onuma M; Yasutomi Y; Yamamoto M: Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy
of bovine leukosis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol Oct;22(3):245-54,
1989.
- 8. Gyles CL and Thoen CO: Pathogenesis of Bacterial Infections
in AnimalsIowa State University Press, pp. 124-126, 1993.
- 9. Jubb KVF, Kennedy PC, Palmer N (eds): Pathology of Domestic
Animals Academic Press, Inc., pp. 466-467, pp 437-438, 1993.
- 10. Chandler FW, Watts JC: Pathologic Diagnosis of Fungal
Infections. ASCP Press, Chicago, pg. 125 and 136.
-
- International Veterinary Pathology Slide Bank: None.
- Lance Batey
Captain, VC, USA
Registry of Veterinary Pathology*
Department of Veterinary Pathology
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
(202)782-2615; DSN: 662-2615
Internet: Batey@email.afip.osd.mil
-
- * The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American
College of Veterinary Pathologists are co-sponsors of the Registry
of Veterinary Pathology. The C.L. Davis Foundation also provides
substantial support for the Registry.
-
- Return to WSC Case Menu