Generalized calcinosis cutis associated with probable leptospirosis in a dog

A 6.5-year-old male German Shepherd acutely developed renal and hepatic disease. Serology revealed high concentrations of antibodies against Leptospira copenhageni, and a presumptive diagnosis of leptospirosis was made. The dog was successfully treated with antibiotics and supportive care over a 12-day period. Sixty-two days after the initial presentation, alopecia predominantly involving the dorsum and perineal areas developed. The skin lesions expanded over a 20-day period. Histology revealed generalized calcinosis cutis with follicular atrophy. An injection of 0.01 mg kg-1 dexamethasone suppressed serum cortisol concentrations. No treatment was given and lesions resolved over the following 30 days. This is the third case of generalized calcinosis cutis that has developed in an adult dog after severe systemic disease. Both previous cases developed calcinosis cutis in association with blastomycosis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of generalized calcinosis cutis in an adult dog in association with a presumptive bacterial infection.     

Gastric amebiasis due to Entamoeba histolytica in a Dama wallaby (Macropus eugenii)

A 1.5-year-old captive female Dama wallaby (Macropus eugenii) died after a 3-month period of progressive weight loss, anorexia, bloat, and diarrhea. Histopathologic examination revealed numerous Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites within the gastric mucosa and, less frequently, gastric submucosa and submucosal vessels. Immunofluorescent antibody testing confirmed the identity of the trophozoites as E. histolytica. The trophozoites were associated with mild glandular epithelial necrosis, mucosal erosions, and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. E. histolytica most commonly causes necrotizing and ulcerative colitis in humans and captive nonhuman primates, and it causes necrotizing and ulcerative gastritis in nonhuman primates with sacculated stomachs adapted for leaf fermentation. Rare cases of gastric amebiasis also have been been reported in captive macropods, which also have complex sacculated stomachs. To our knowledge, this is the first report confirming E. histolytica as the cause of gastric amebiasis in a wallaby. The zoonotic potential of this infection in macropods is uncertain.     

Suspected metastatic coccygeal chordoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

A chordoma was removed from the tail base of a 6.5-year-old ferret (Mustela putorius furo). A nodule was observed in the area of tumor development when the ferret was purchased at 3 months of age. Although the nodule did not enlarge for 2 years, slow, steady growth of the tumor was observed for 4 years before surgical removal. Eight months after removal of the chordoma, the ferret developed 2 cutaneous masses. One was adjacent to the vulva, close to where the chordoma had been removed from, whereas the other was in the nasofacial region. After 4 months of slow growth, both masses were removed and both were histologically and immunohistochemically consistent with chordoma. Over the next 8 weeks, additional masses developed in the facial, maxillary gingival, and scapular regions. Enlargement of the gingival mass caused dysphagia, and the ferret was euthanized. Although a necropsy was not performed, these additional masses had a clinical appearance and texture that was similar to the 2 previously removed cutaneous chordomas. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a ferret coccygeal chordoma that developed close to the base of the tail. Ferret chordomas have been reported previously to metastasize to the subcutis overlying the tumor. However, this is the first report of a ferret chordoma that metastasized to a location distant to the primary site of neoplasm development. Cell proliferation indices did not predict this metastatic behavior. It is hypothesized that the long clinical period before removal may have predisposed this neoplasm to metastasis. Observations from this case suggest that chordomas in ferrets may have metastatic potential and so should be removed promptly.     

Retroperitoneal teratoma in a skunk (Mephitis mephitis).

A 4-yr-old striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) developed an 11- x 7- x 7-cm retroperitoneal mass caudal to the left kidney. The mass was surgically excised and, on the basis of histology and immunohistochemistry, diagnosed as a benign teratoma. Six months later, a second histologically similar neoplasm was excised from the same location and was considered to represent local tumor recurrence. The skunk died 16 mo later without recurrence. Complete excision of the tumor appeared curative in this case and supported the benign diagnosis. An extragonadal teratoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for an abdominal mass in a skunk.     

Amplification of three different papillomaviral DNA sequences from a cat with viral plaques

A 3‐year‐old cat from New Zealand developed three small raised non‐ulcerated plaques on the face. Serology detected antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Histology of the plaque revealed epidermal hyperplasia with keratinocytes either distended with large blue‐grey cytoplasmic bodies or with shrunken nuclei surrounded by a clear halo. Papillomavirus (PV) antigen was detected immunohistochemically and feline viral plaque was diagnosed. Swabs were taken of both lesional and non‐lesional skin, and polymerase chain reactions were used to detect PV DNA. Three different PV DNA sequences were amplified, one from a Felis domesticus PV type 1 (FdPV‐1) previously amplified from a feline viral plaque, a second (FdPV‐JM) previously amplified from feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, and a third FdPV‐MY that was not reported previously. All three sequences were amplified from swabs of both lesional and non‐lesional skin. These results extend the geographical range of FdPV‐1 outside North America and also demonstrate the ability of FdPV‐1 to asymptomatically infect feline skin. However, the detection of multiple PV sequences within both lesional and non‐lesional samples makes it difficult to determine whether or not any of the PVs caused feline viral plaque development in this cat. This is the first time PV DNA has been detected in a feline skin swab sample. Additionally, it is the first report of multiple PVs being detected in a single sample from a cat. This may suggest that FIV infection predisposes cats to cutaneous PV infection.