Mixed Thymoma in a Young Cynomolgus Monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

A mass with a diameter of 1.5 cm was found in the thymus of a 4-year and 3-month-old male cynomolgus monkey. Microscopically, the mass consisted of two different patterns of proliferation, dense or fascicular proliferation of elongated spindle cells in a sporadic storiform pattern and dense proliferation of thymic cortex-like lymphoid cells in which the multifocal pale nests resembling the thymic medulla were distributed. In these pale nests, large dendriform cells sometimes forming Hassall's corpuscles were present. The proliferating spindle cells were positive for cytokeratin. The lymphoid cells in the mass were positive for CD3. We concluded that the mass consisted of the neoplastic thymic epithelium with thymocytes proliferation containing medullary differentiation. The mass was diagnosed as a mixed thymoma according to the WHO classification of thymomas in humans. Mixed thymoma is characterized as a mixture of two types of proliferative lesions, spindle-shaped epithelial proliferation and a lymphocyte predominant lesion with or without medullary differentiation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning thymoma in monkeys.     

Histologic and immunohistochemical characterization of thymic epithelial tumours in the dog

Thymic epithelial tumour (TET) histologic subclassification has not been well described in the veterinary literature as it has in humans. The objective of this study was to identify and describe TET subtypes in dogs and to determine the utility of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in differentiating these subtypes. Samples were reviewed and classified according to a modified World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for human tumours of thymic origin. Signallment, presenting signs, treatment and survival data was collected from medical records. Histologic review confirmed the same subtypes as described in humans. Presence of high stage disease, pleomorphism, mitotic figures and capsular invasion was more common in atypical thymomas and thymic carcinomas than in thymomas. IHC was performed for GLUT‐1, CD5, CD117 and CK8/18; however, this was not useful in classifying the tumours.     

Thymoma in a domestic rabbit.

Thymic tumors are uncommon in small domestic animals, and thymomas are infrequently reported in rabbits. This report presents a 7-year-old Netherland dwarf rabbit with an anterior mediastinal mass which caused hyperpnea, open-mouth breathing, swelling of the head, and exophthalmos. The mass was composed predominantly of lymphocytes, but the presence of thymic epithelial cells established the histologic diagnosis of thymoma.     

Canine thymoma

Thymoma is an uncommon canine neoplasm of thymic epithelial cells. It is seen in various breeds but may occur more frequently in German Shepherd Dogs. Middle-aged or older dogs can be affected and no sex predilection exists. A paraneoplastic syndrome of myasthenia gravis, nonthymic malignant tumors, and/or polymyositis occurs in a significant number of dogs with thymoma. Clinical signs are variable and are related to a space-occupying cranial mediastinal mass and/or manifestations of the paraneo-plastic syndrome. Dyspnea is the most common presenting clinical sign. Thoracic radiographs usually show a cranial mediastinal mass. Lymphoma is the main differential diagnosis. A definitive diagnosis may be made by closed biopsy but is more likely to be confirmed by thoracotomy. Thymomas may be completely contained within the thymic capsule or may spread by local invasion or metastasis. A staging system allows for an accurate prognosis and a therapeutic plan. Surgical removal of encapsulated thymomas may result in long-term survival or cure. Invasive or metastatic thymomas carry a guarded prognosis. Manifestations of the paraneoplastic syndrome complicate treatment. Adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy may be of value for advanced cases; however, adequate clinical trials have not been done in the dog.     

Atypical thymoma in a horse: Diagnostic approach and application of an alternative histological classification system

Thymoma is a rare condition in horses. This case of a 24-year-old Warmblood gelding that was presented with oedema and signs of vascular congestion of the left forelimb caused by a thoracic mass is described. The diagnostic work-up included blood chemistry, cytology of pleural effusion, ultrasonography, radiography and the visualisation and collection of a tissue sample by thoracoscopy. Finally, post-mortem findings and histopathology revealed thymic epithelial neoplasia with histomorphologic features previously unreported in horses. The unique mixture of spindle-shaped and epithelioid tumour cells in combination with clear features of malignancy suggested the application of the Moran and Suster histological classification system for thymomas in humans (Moran and Suster, 2008, Curr. Treat. Options Oncol., 9, 288), which has not been reported in an equine case before and fits well to the present case.     

Mediastinal lymphoma in dogs is homogeneous compared to thymic epithelial neoplasia and is more likely to envelop the cranial vena cava in CT images

In order to identify CT signs that could be used to distinguish cranial mediastinal lymphoma and thymic epithelial neoplasia, a retrospective case‐control study was done. Associations between CT signs and diagnosis were tested using binary logistic regression and results expressed as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Sixty‐two dogs that had thoracic CT and confirmed diagnosis of lymphoma (n = 33) or thymic neoplasia (n = 29) were sampled. Thymic neoplasms included 24 thymomas and five thymic carcinomas. Dogs with thymic epithelial neoplasia were significantly older than dogs with lymphoma (median age 8.6 years versus 6.0 years, P = .007), but there were no significant differences in prevalence of clinical signs. Diagnosis of thymic epithelial neoplasia was associated with heterogeneous attenuation in pre‐ (odds ratio 23.3, 95% confidence interval, 4.5‐121.1) and post‐contrast (odds ratio 30.7, 95% confidence interval, 3.6‐265.0) images. Conversely, envelopment of the cranial vena cava by the mass was less likely with thymic epithelial neoplasia than lymphoma (odds ratio 0.07, 95% confidence interval, 0.007‐0.66). Greater standard deviation of Hounsfield unit values in post‐contrast images was associated with thymic epithelial neoplasia (P = .005). Based on ROC analysis, SD > 17HU of the mass in post‐contrast images had a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 79% for thymic epithelial neoplasia. There were no significant differences in morphology, prevalence of calcification, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, cranial vena cava invasion, collateral vessels, or pleural fluid associated with these tumors. Thymic epithelial neoplasms tended to occur in older dogs and were heterogeneous in CT images, whereas mediastinal lymphoma was more homogeneous and more likely to envelop the cranial vena cava.     

Histopathologic classification of 171 cases of canine and feline non-Hodgkin lymphoma according to the WHO

A retrospective collection of 171 lymphoid neoplasms (123 dogs and 48 cats) was classified according to the Revised European–American Lymphoma (REAL) classification, adopted in 2002 by the World Health Organization (WHO), to evaluate the WHO system for categorization of canine and feline neoplasms. Microscopic examination was performed after standard hematoxylin–eosin staining and immunohistochemical labelling for B (CD79a) or T (CD3) cell phenotypes. B-cell lymphomas were prevalent in dogs and T-cell lymphomas in cats. B-Large cell lymphoma (B-LCL) frequently showed plasmacytoid differentiation; notably, two canine plasma cell tumours (PCT) expressed both CD79 and CD3. There were difficulties in differentiating B-lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LBL) from Burkitt-type lymphoma. Furthermore, intestinal T-cell lymphoma (ITCL) exhibited a huge morphologic variability. Finally, multicentric mature small and thymic T-cell lymphomas were diagnosed, although these categories are not codified by the WHO classification.     

Immunohistochemistry of ultimobranchial thyroid carcinomas in seven slaughtered cows and one bull.

Eight thyroid gland epithelial tumors were found in 7 cows and 1 bull in a retrospective study of thyroid gland lesions in slaughtered cattle. All tumors were classified as ultimobranchial thyroid carcinomas based on morphology and immunohistochemistry. All tumors consisted of solid sheets and nests of polygonal to oval epithelial cells, with more sparsely dispersed colloid-filled follicles. Connective tissue separating nests of epithelial cells varied from delicate fibrovascular stroma to dense collagenous stroma. Fusiform epithelial cells with rare neural fibers and ganglion cells were present in 1 tumor. Cells within solid areas of these tumors were immunoreactive for calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, neuron-specific enolase, and synaptophysin. Colloid and follicle cells were immunoreactive for thyroglobulin. Few follicle cells also were reactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide. Neoplastic cells invaded the fibrous capsules in all 8 cattle. These tumors represented proliferation of a mixed population of undifferentiated cells, C cells, and thyroid follicular epithelial cells, presumably derived from the thyroid ultimobranchial bodies. These ultimobranchial carcinomas in slaughtered cattle are comparable to ultimobranchial tumors described in dairy bulls and the intermediate type of thyroid gland carcinomas (mixed thyroid medullary carcinomas) described in human beings.     

Turkey respiratory tract adenoviruses: oncogenic potential in neonatal hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

The tumorigenic properties of 3 turkey adenoviruses (CUA, NC-K, and MST) isolated from turkeys with respiratory tract disease and injected into neonatal hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) have been determined. One of 30 adenovirus isolates (CUA) induced tumors at the site of inoculation (subcutaneously or intracranially) in neonatal hamsters. The tumors were identified as fibrosarcomas and undifferentiated sarcomas. The tumors were found to be free of infective virus, but hamsters which had tumors produced antibody to the virus-specific tumor antigen detectable by the complement-fixation test. The antibody titers for the tumor antigen were from 1:8 to 1:16. Abnormalities were not observed in the major organs collected from hamsters inoculated with the virus. Inoculations of hamster embryo cells and of adult and baby hamster kidney cells with the 3 turkey adenoviruses at a high multiplicity of infection did not produce transformed cells in monolayers. Hamster cells were permissive for CUA virus, since cytopathic effect was observed in 3 to 5 days after inoculation.     

Thymoma-associated exfoliative dermatitis in cats

Five cases of exfoliative dermatitis in cats were presented from 1996 to 2002 in which a feline thymoma was found by postmortem or postsurgical examination. Besides abundant exfoliation of keratin squames and layers, the histologic picture of the skin revealed a similar pattern of interface dermatitis with predominantly CD3+ lymphocytes and fewer mast cells and plasma cells. In the epidermal basal layer a hydropic degeneration of keratinocytes was present. In all cases an infundibular lymphocytic mural folliculitis and absence of or drastic decrease in the number of sebaceous glands occurred. In addition to the so far described cell-poor type, we also found examples of a cell-rich skin lesion. Together with the clinical observation of generalized exfoliative dermatitis, the histologic pattern of this dermatitis was suggestive of an underlying thymoma. The pathogenesis of this skin disease in association with thymic neoplasia remains obscure, and our results contradict the hypothesis of production of autoantibodies that cross-react with epithelial antigens. The morphology of the thymomas and CD3 expression of the thymocytes varied and did not seem to have an impact on the dermal lesions.     

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis in laboratory personnel exposed to hamsters inadvertently infected with LCM virus

Seven of 27 students and staff oa a university laboratory became ill with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) following exposure over an 18-month period to hamsters implanted with tumors. The clinical symptoms were compatible with LCM infection and all the patients' sera had fluorescent antibody to LCM virus; 5 of them also had complement-fixing (CF) antibodies. Complement-fixing antibodies were found in 9 of 9 hamsters with tumors and 16 of 31 without tumors (excluding 6 hamsters with anticomplementary sera) and in 8 of 14 rabbits, but in none of 49 rats. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus was isolated from 4 pools of liver and spleen, 2 each from hamsters with and without tumors, and from a frozen stored sample of the tumor cells. Interlaboratory transmission may have occurred via infected tumor cells. Control was achieved by destroying all animals in the project room as well as all hamsters in the building. The possibility that many tumor cell lines carried in hamsters may be infected with LCM virus has important implications for laboratory safety as well as for the validity of the research results obtained, inasmuch as the virus enhances the growth of some tumors and retards others.     

Experimental hamster enteritis: an electron microscopic study.

Hamster enteritis (HE) was experimentally produced in weanling hamsters by orally inoculating healthy hamsters with suspensions of ilea obtained from hamsters with HE. Control groups of hamsters were inoculated orally with suspensions of ilea from healthy hamsters. Electron microscopy was done on ilea from 6 control hamsters, 31 hamsters with experimentally produced HE, and 4 hamsters with naturally occurring HE. Ultrastructural changes were not observed in the absorptive epithelium of control animals. Two different intracytoplasmic bacterial organisms were observed in epithelial cells of hamsters with experimentally produced HE. Organisms that were observed early in the disease process were identified as Escherichia coli. Organisms ultrastructurally similar to Campylobacter spp were observed later in the disease and were only within hyperplastic epithelial cells. The hyperplastic ileal epithelium of hamsters with naturally occurring HE contained campylobacter-like organisms.     

The Thymus of the Guinea Fowl from the Eighteenth Day of Incubation until Maturity

The thymus gland of the guinea fowl appeared as a series of pink, irregular-shaped lobes along the jugular veins. These lobes were 13 in number with seven on the right and six on the left side. The third and sixth lobes on the right side were the largest. The largest lobe measured about 20.0 × 5.0 mm while the smallest measured about 5.0 × 4,0 mm. Histologically, it was encircled by a thin layer of poorly stained connective tissue from which strands penetrated the thymic tissue giving incomplete lobules peripherally as early as day 18 of incubation. Lymphocytes and reticular epithelial cells were the two types of cells occurring at this time. Reticular epithelial cells were observed to be vacuolated especially towards the centre of the gland. Macrophages were observed in the thymus on day 20 of incubation for the first time. The blood vessels had accompanied the interlobular septa into the thymus. By day 21 of incubation, blood vessels had actually penetrated the thymic tissue but most of these vessels were of the capillary size. The cortex also became quite distinct from the medulla. At day 22, vacuolation ceased to appear in the cells at the cortical zone. Macrophages were still less than 10 in the slide. At day 23, most blood vessels were within the medulla and they displayed compressed lumi-na. Mitotic figures became a common site amongst the large lymphocytes and reticular epithelial cells. By day one post-hatch, lobulation of the thymus was still poor and macrophages became difficult to identify. The small and medium lymphocytes had outnumbered the large lymphocytes throughout the thymic tissue except at the most peripheral zone of the cortex. Fine vacuoles had reappeared within the cytoplasm of the reticular epithelial cells in the cortex. By day five, the distribution of blood vessels was almost uniform between the cortex and medulla. At three weeks post-hatch, plasma cells and red blood cells were seen in the stroma of the gland for the first time and most of the red blood cells occurred in the medulla.     

玉米赤霉烯酮对小鼠胸腺上皮细胞的毒性作用

采用台盼蓝计数、流式细胞仪分析等方法,离体研究玉米赤霉烯酮对小鼠胸腺上皮细胞增殖与细胞周期的影响,结果发现:不同质量浓度(1～25 mg/L)玉米赤霉烯酮对小鼠胸腺上皮细胞的增殖均具有显著抑制作用(P<0.05),并表现出与剂量和处理时间依赖性关系.高剂量(10～25 mg/L)ZEA使小鼠胸腺上皮细胞细胞周期显著阻滞于G2/M期(P<0.05),并存在剂量依赖性关系.这些结果表明,玉米赤霉烯酮对小鼠胸腺上皮细胞有直接毒害作用.     

The expression of p63 and cytokeratin 5 in mixed tumors of the canine mammary gland provides new insights into the histogenesis of these neoplasms

Cytokeratin 5 and p63 have been described as basal and myoepithelial cell markers in human breast. Mixed tumors of the canine mammary gland have been associated with a myoepithelial origin. Cytokeratin 5 expression has not been evaluated in these tumors. We investigated the relation between cytokeratin 5 and p63 double-immunohistochemical expression in 23 mixed tumors of the canine mammary gland (10 benign mixed tumors and 13 carcinomas arising from benign mixed tumors) and their origin. Cytokeratin 5 and p63 co-expression was observed in myoepithelial cells of benign mixed tumors, as well as in squamous differentiation of carcinoma arising from benign mixed tumors. Though a few interstitial spindle cells of the mesenchymal components expressed both p63 and cytokeratin 5, the basal epithelial cells were labeled only by cytokeratin 5. The co-expression of p63 and cytokeratin 5 in myoepithelial cells and squamous differentiation suggest that, like in human breast, cytokeratin 5 can also be considered a myoepithelial- and squamous-cell differentiating marker in canine tumors. The presence of some interstitial spindle cells stained for p63 and cytokeratin 5 might be associated with a myoepithelial origin of the mesenchymal component of mixed tumors of the canine mammary gland. Moreover, contrary to p63, basal epithelial cells were labeled by cytokeratin 5, indicating that cytokeratin 5 may not represent an exclusive myoepithelial cell marker but also a basal epithelial cell marker in canine mixed tumors. According to these data, basal epithelial cells may be related to the origin of the epithelial component of mixed tumors of the canine mammary gland.     

Protection activity of a novel probiotic strain of Bacillus subtilis against Salmonella Enteritidis infection

The activity of 240 bacterial isolates screened from the gastrointestinal tracts of native chickens were evaluated for use as a potential probiotic in food animal production in order to protect against animal diseases and reduce pathogenic contamination of human food products. In observing the antagonistic activity of 117 bacilli isolates, 10 of these isolates exhibited higher growth inhibition of seven foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Vibrio cholerae. Beneficial probiotic criteria from these isolates - which included non-pathogenicity, acid and bile salt tolerance, hydrophobicity, and adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells - exhibited that one isolate of NC11 had the most potential as a probiotic. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that this NC11 isolate was Bacillus subtilis. This B. subtilis NC11 was sensitive to all antibiotics and was not cytotoxic to intestinal epithelial cells. Reduction of S. Enteritidis attachment to the surfaces of intestinal epithelial cells via action of a cultured medium from B. subtilis NC11 was observed by scanning electron microscopy. B. subtilis NC11 cells, as well as the bacterial cultured medium or the cultured medium adjusted to pH 7, significantly inhibited S. Enteritidis invasion (P<0.01) of intestinal epithelial cells. This study indicates that B. subtilis NC11 has characteristics of a potential probiotic, and exhibits strong inhibition activity against S. Enteritidis infection to intestinal epithelial cells.     

Relation between phenotype of tumor cells and clinicopathology in bovine leukosis

Thirty-three cases of enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) and 14 cases of sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL) were examined by immunohistochemistry using 6 monoclonal antibodies against leukocyte differentiation molecules of bovine leukocytes. There were 17 cases of B-1a cell type, 10 cases of B-1b cell type and 6 cases of B-2 cell type in EBL, and 5 cases originating from B cells (B-2 cell type) and 9 cases originating from immature T cells in SBL. The average age for the EBL cases of B-1a cell type was 8.6 years, B-1b cell type was 6.5 years, and of B-2 cell type was 4.5 years. In cases of SBL, immature T cell type patients were younger than B-2 cell type ones. The lymphoma originating from B cells differed from that originating from T cells in morphology. In T cell tumors, the nucleus of tumor cells was round, the edge of the cytoplasm obvious, and tumor cells were sporadically present and proliferated. When compared with T cells, the region among B cells was obscure. But, there was no relation between phenotype and the histologic classification of tumor cells. In EBL, beyond the lymph node, tumors of B-1a and B-1b types had developed in the heart and abomasum, and those of the B-2 type tended to occur in liver. In SBL, B-2 type and T type cells formed tumors in the liver, kidney, thymus, and one case of T-cell type tumor formed on the skin. We would like to propose a new classification of bovine leukosis as EBL, calf type B-cell lymphoma, juvenile T-cell lymphoma and skin type T-cell lymphoma.     

Immature T cell neoplasms in three young cattle

Immature T cell neoplasms in three young Holstein cattle with neoplastic involvement of the thymus are described. Case 1, with a precursor T lymphoblastic leukemia (calf form of leukosis), was an 86-day-old female calf. The leukemia was characterized by replacement of the bone marrow and spleen by leukemia cells, but preservation of epithelial frameworks throughout the thymus. The other two neoplasms were thymic γδ T cell lymphomas, which were observed in a 246-day-old steer (case 2) and a 16-month-old heifer (case 3). Histological examination revealed obliteration of the normal thymic architecture and stromal fibrosis, with the spleen and liver far less severely affected than in case 1. There were cytological differences bewteen the tumors in case 1 and cases 2 and 3. Additionally, WC1 and CD8 were expressed only in the latter. Thus, the leukemia and these lymphomas should be regarded as independent disease entities on the basis of histological and immunohistochemical characteristics.     

Thymolipoma in a cat

Thymolipomas are rare benign thymic neoplasms recognised in humans, composed of mature adipose tissue and thymic tissue. An 8-year-old male domestic shorthair cat presented with anorexia, lethargy and vomiting secondary to the development of a thoracic effusion and an anterior mediastinal tumoral mass with fatty appearance. Histologically, the mass consisted of adipose tissue containing numerous cords and nests of cortical and medullary thymic tissue. No signs of thymic epithelial or lymphoid neoplastic proliferation were detected. The findings in this case are remarkably similar to the macroscopic and histological features of thymolipoma in humans.     

Immunohistochemistry for 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase in 63 bovine peripheral nerve sheath tumors

To establish a simple and uniform classification of bovine peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs), 63 tumors from 44 cattle were examined histologically and immunohistochemically with antibodies against S100 protein and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase (CNPase). Immunohistochemically, all the tumors were positive for S100 protein, CNPase, or both. Four types of PNST were recognized: 35 schwannomas, 9 neurofibromas, 14 hybrid (neurofibroma-schwannoma) tumors, and 5 malignant PNSTs. Axons were identified by immunohistochemistry for neurofilament in a proportion of tumors of each type of PNST. In conclusion, bovine PNSTs commonly have both schwannomatous and neurofibromatous areas. Moreover, the Schwann cell markers S100 protein and CNPase, in combination with antibodies against neurofilament, are valuable diagnostic tools to classify bovine PNSTs.