Journal of Comparative Pathology 2008

Camelids

Listeria monocytogenes Septicaemia and Concurrent Clostridial

Infection in an Adult Alpaca (Lama pacos) findings were multifocal
necrotizing hepatits, splenitis, colitis and ulcerative to diptheroid ileitis.

Systemic Candida albicans Infection in Two Alpacas (Lama

pacos) Candida albican is dimorphic fungus commensal in skin, upper respiratory
tract, alimentary tract and genital tract. Immunosuppresion or disturbance of
cutaneous/mucosal barrier for invasion to take place..Histo: suppurative to
necrotizing inflammation in various organs.

Parasite-induced leucomyelopathy in llamas (Lama glama): Parelaphostrongylus tenuis,

a protostrongylid nematode, is a recognised cause of ataxia and recumbency in llamas in
USA. Extensive haemorrhagic and necrotising leucomyelopathy (lumbar spinal cord)
with multiple nematode larva. White-tailed deer is the definitive host of P tenuis. Parasite
in this report was identified as Elaphostrongylus cervi, which has similar life cycle as P
tenuis.

Carcinoma in a mixed mammary tumor in a llama (Lama

glama). J Vet Diagn Invest 19:450–453 (2007). Histopathologic
examination revealed tubulopapillary acinar or solid nest-like clusters
of neoplastic epithelial cells surrounded by whorls and sheets of
proliferative myoepithelial cells. Histologic criteria for malignancy
observed in neoplastic epithelial cells included marked cellular and
nuclear atypia, high mitotic index, and numerous bizarre mitoses. The
presence of osseous metaplasia in the proliferative mesenchymal
component justified classification as a mixed tumor.

Atypical coccidiosis in South American camelids. J Vet Diagn

Invest 19:122–125 (2007). Anorexia of a few days duration, sudden
death, and diarrhea. No coccidial oocysts detected on antemortem
fecal flotation ( Eimeria lamae, Eimeria alpacae, Eimeria
macusaniensis, Eimeria punoensis, and Eimeria peruviana, Eimeria
ivitaensis). Histopathology revealed numerous Eimeria oocysts at
various life-cycle stages in the mucosa and lamina propria of the
jejunum and ileum. Hepatocytes were swollen and had vacuolated
cytoplasm consistent with hepatic lipidosis.

Encephalitozoon cuniculi–Associated Placentitis and Perinatal Death in an Alpaca Vet Path 2008
Mar: Placentitis, premature birth, and perinatal death were associated with Encephalitozoon cuniculi
infection in an alpaca. Histologically, chorionic trophoblasts contained many Gram-positive, PAS positive
spores. Chorionic membrane had MF necrosis, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and neutrophils. Placentitis also
reported in squirrel monkey, foxes and horse. Most species, E. cuniculi infections= nonsuppurative
encephalitis, nephritis, vasculitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, and placentitis
Metastatic malignant melanoma in an alpaca (Vicugna pacos). J Vet Diagn Invest
21:141–144 (2009). ulcerated, multilobulated, black pigmented mass (8.0 cm 3 6.0 cm 3
4.0 cm) that infiltrated the left rostral maxilla extending into the marrow space and into
the left nasal cavity. Numerous, discrete, coalescing masses were present in the
subcutaneous tissue of the submandibular area, peritracheal connective tissue,
pericardium, and diaphragmatic parietal pleura and were disseminated throughout the
pulmonary parenchyma. The masses were diffusely black on cut surface and exuded
black pigment. Histologically, all masses were composed of spindloid to polygonal cells
with indistinct cell borders and moderate amounts of cytoplasm that contained abundant
fine, black granules (melanin), confirming metastasis of a primary mucocutaneous
melanoma.

Disseminated Bovine viral diarrhea virus in a persistently infected alpaca (Vicugna

pacos) cria. J Vet Diagn Invest 21:145–148 (2009). disseminated BVDV-1b infection.
Virus was detected in multiple tissues, including parotid salivary gland, testes, prostate,
kidneys, skin, and gastrointestinal tract.
Demonstration of BVDV in previously unreported tissues suggests additional potential
routes of BVDV transmission in alpacas.

Osteogenic intraocular melanoma in an alpaca (Vicugna pacos). J Vet Diagn Invest

21:171–173 (2009). Histopathological, immunohistochemical, and transmission electron
microscopy confirmed the tumor was an intraocular melanoma with bone formation.
Osteogenic melanoma is a rare variant of melanoma not reported in the eye before.

Cotoneaster sp. poisoning in a llama (Lama glama). J Vet Diagn Invest 21:247–249
(2009). The clinical signs were dyspnea, with congested mucous membranes, chewing,
recumbency, and opisthotonos. Several hours after ingestion of the plant, the llama died,
despite treatment with sodium thiosulfate and nitrite.
Necropsy revealed approximately 676 g of leaves and fruit of Cotoneaster in the first
compartment of the stomach. The blood was light red and did not clot. Because
Cotoneaster sp. contains low concentrations of cyanogenic glycosides, toxicosis occurs
only following massive ingestion of plant material.

Metastatic uterine adenocarcinoma and hepatic lipomatosis in a llama (Lama

glama). J Vet Diagn Invest 21:280–282 (2009). infiltrative uterine adenocarcinoma
with widespread metastases. The neoplasm completely replaced and infiltrated the
myometrium of the uterine body and cervix and metastasized largely to the serosal
surfaces of the peritoneal cavity. Histopathology identified a highly invasive growth of
neoplastic cells in solid packets or tubular arrangements and marked fibroplasia.

Malignant Round Cell Neoplasia in Llamas and Alpacas: Mean age of affected alpacas (3.1 years)
was significantly less than that of affected llamas (8.0 years). B-cell lymphoma (12 cases) and T-cell
lymphoma (6 cases). Six tumors did not express any lymphoid marker and were classified as primitive
malignant round cell tumor. Lymphomas are the most common tumor affecting camelids. Liver and kidney
are most commonly involved organs in round cell tumor.
Brain tumours in two Bactrian camels: a histiocytic sarcoma and a meningioma.
Veterinary Record (2009) 164, 684-688. Thalamus-medium to large, pleomorphic
round cells with ovoid, cleaved or reniform nuclei, faintly granular, pale eosinophilic
cytoplasm,commonly binucleated. The mass was also heavily infiltrated with small
lymphocytes and fewer plasma cells, and formed cuffs about the prominent vasculature.
Immunohistochemistry showed strong, diffuse cytoplasmic staining of the pleomorphic
cells with antibody to CD163 and CD3 demonstrated an abundance of T lymphocytes,
either perivascular or infiltrating the mass . Any B lymphocytes present were not labelled
by the generic reagent (CD79a). The neoplasm was GFAP-negative except for solitary
cytoplasmic processes of reactive astrocytes trapped within the mass and abundant
reactive astrocytes in the surrounding brain tissue. The mass was diagnosed as a thalamic
histiocytic sarcoma. The meningioma was adhered to the dura and was fibroblastic type.

Listeria monocytogenes Septicaemia and Concurrent Clostridial Infection in an

Adult Alpaca (Lama pacos) findings were multifocal necrotizing hepatits, splenitis,
colitis and ulcerative to diptheroid ileitis.

Systemic Candida albicans Infection in Two Alpacas (Lama pacos) Candida albican is
dimorphic fungus commensal in skin, upper respiratory tract, alimentary tract and genital
tract. Immunosuppresion or disturbance of cutaneous/mucosal barrier for invasion to take
place..Histo: suppurative to necrotizing inflammation in various organs.

Parasite-induced leucomyelopathy in llamas (Lama glama): Parelaphostrongylus tenuis,

a protostrongylid nematode, is a recognised cause of ataxia and recumbency in llamas in
USA. Extensive haemorrhagic and necrotising leucomyelopathy (lumbar spinal cord)
with multiple nematode larva. White-tailed deer is the definitive host of P tenuis. Parasite
in this report was identified as Elaphostrongylus cervi, which has similar life cycle as P
tenuis.

Oleander intoxication in New World Camelids. JAVMA 235 2009. Oleander contains
cardenolides (cardiac glycosides: Na/K ATPase pump inhibition  increased
intracellular calcium positive inotrope) and triterpenoids. Acute renal failure, GI and
Cardiac dysfunction.

Albendazole toxicosis in 12 Alpacas. JVIM 2009: Hypoproteinemia, neutropenia, Crypt

epithelial necrosis, Bone marrow hypocellularity. Mechanism- mitochondrial inhibitor.

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor in a lumbar vertebra and the liver of a

dromedary camel. Homer wright rosettes, uniform sheets, pseudorosettes. Vimentin and
NSE and GFAP.

Cerebellar Abiotrophy in an Alpaca (Lama pacos). Vet Pathol 46:1133–1137 (2009).

cerebellar vermis, included marked absence of Purkinje cells, decreased granule cells,
narrowing of the molecular layer, and thinning of white matter tracts consistent
with abiotrophy. ↑ GFAP, ↓ Neurofilament.