Laryngeal and oropharyngeal adenocarcinoma with pulmonary metastases in a common raven (Corvus corax)

Abstract

A captive 15-year-old male common raven (Corvus corax) was presented for post-mortem examination. It had been previously presented to a local veterinarian due to a 3–4 weeks long history of abnormal respiratory sounds. Upon admission, the bird demonstrated severe dyspnea and a massive amount of mucous in the oropharynx. After symptomatic treatment, dyspnea deteriorated dramatically, and euthanasia was elicited because of poor prognosis. The necropsy revealed a 2.65 x 2.15 x 2.18 cm expansile and poorly delineated cauliflower-shaped mass around the glottis and extending inside the tracheal lumen. Additionally, a dilated salivary gland in the adjacent tissue and multifocal reddish-fleshy areas in the lung parenchyma were detected. Histopathological examination identified the mass as moderately differentiated, tubular adenocarcinoma with invasive growth and moderate to marked cellular atypia and numerous mitoses. The presumptive origin of the neoplasia was one of the salivary glands. Multiple metastases were identified in the lung both macroscopically and histologically. Bacterial culture and molecular testing for West Nile and Usutu viruses were negative. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of metastatic laryngeal and oropharyngeal adenocarcinoma in a common raven.

Zusammenfassung

Ein in menschlicher Obhut gehaltener 15-jähriger männlicher Kolkrabe (Corvus corax) wurde zur pathologisch-anatomischen Sektion vorgestellt. Zuvor war er einem örtlichen Tierarzt vorgestellt worden, weil er seit 3–4 Wochen Atemgeräusche zeigte. Bei der Vorstellung wies der Vogel schwere Dyspnoe und massive Schleimansammlungen im Oropharynx auf. Nach symptomatischer Behandlung verschlechterte sich die Dyspnoe dramatisch, und der Vogel wurde aufgrund der schlechten Prognose euthanasiert. Bei der Sektion wurde eine 2,65 x 2,15 x 2,18 cm große, weitreichende und schlecht abgegrenzte, blumenkohlförmige Masse um die Glottis herum und im Inneren des Tracheallumens festgestellt. Darüber hinaus wurden eine dilatierte Speicheldrüse im umliegenden Gewebe und multifokale rötlich-fleischige Bereiche im Lungenparenchym festgestellt. Die histopathologische Untersuchung ergab, dass es sich bei der Masse um ein mäßig differenziertes, tubuläres Adenokarzinom mit invasivem Wachstum und mäßiger bis ausgeprägter zellulärer Atypie sowie zahlreichen Mitosen handelte. Eine der Speicheldrüsen wurde als Ursprung der Neoplasie vermutet. Sowohl makroskopisch als auch histologisch wurden mehrere Metastasen in der Lunge festgestellt. Bakterienkulturen und molekulare Tests auf West-Nil- und Usutu-Viren waren negativ. Nach Kenntnis der Autoren ist dies der erste Bericht über ein metastasierendes Adenokarzinom des Larynx und Oropharynx bei einem Kolkraben.

Keywords

Tumor - dyspnea - Corvids - avian medicine - neoplasia - histopathology

Schlüsselwörter

Tumor - Dyspnoe - Corviden - Vogelmedizin - Neoplasie - Histopathologie

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 21. Februar 2023

Angenommen: 04. Juli 2023

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
03. Mai 2024

• References

• 1 Eiden M, Vina-Rodriguez A, Hoffmann B. et al. Two new real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays with unique target sites for the specific and sensitive detection of lineages 1 and 2 West Nile virus strains. J Vet Diagn Invest 2010; 22: 748-753 DOI: 10.1177/104063871002200515.
• 2 Jöst H, Bialonski A, Maus D. et al. Isolation of Usutu virus in Germany. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 85: 551-553 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0248.
• 3 Loupal G, Rabitsch A. Plattenepithelkarzinom des Osophagus bei einer wildlebenden Saatkrähe. Tierarztl Prax 1986; 14: 143-146
• 4 Coci G, Morici M, Spadola F. Clinical cases of multiple parasitism in ravens (Corvus corax, Linnaeus, 1958). Natura Rerum 2015-2016: 53-58
• 5 Arné P, Risco-Castillo V, Jouvion G. et al. Aspergillosis in wild birds. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7: 241 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030241.
• 6 Zinkl JG, Hyland JM, Hurt JJ. Aspergillosis in common crows in Nebraska, 1974. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 1977; 13: 191-193 DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-13.2.191.
• 7 Miller AD, Townsend AK, McGowan KJ. et al. Non-West Nile virus-associated mortality in a population of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos): a gross and histopathologic study. J Vet Diagn Invest 2010; 22: 289-295 DOI: 10.1177/104063871002200223.
• 8 Ziegler L, Palau-Ribes FM, Schmidt L. et al. Occurence and relevance of Mycoplasma sturni in free-ranging corvids in Germany. jwdi 2017; 53: 228-234 DOI: 10.7589/2015-12-350.
• 9 van Empel PC, Hafez HM. Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale: A review. Avian Pathology 1999; 28: 217-227 DOI: 10.1080/03079459994704.
• 10 Johne R, Konrath A, Krautwald-Junghanns M-E. et al. Herpesviral, but no papovaviral sequences, are detected in cloacal papillomas of parrots. Arch Virol 2002; 147: 1869-1880 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-002-0858-7.
• 11 Katoh H, Ogawa H, Ohya K. et al. A review of DNA viral infections in psittacine birds. J Vet Med Sci 2010; 72: 1099-1106 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.10-0022.
• 12 Legler M, Kothe R, Rautenschlein S. et al. Detektion des Psittacid Herpesvirus 1 bei Amazonen mit papillomatösen Kloakenveränderungen (Internal papillomatosis of parrots, IPP) aus einer Gemeinschaftshaltung verschiedener Papageienarten. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2008; 115: 461-470
• 13 Sundberg JP, Junge RE, O'Banion MK. et al. Cloacal papillomas in psittacines. Am J Vet Res 1986; 47: 928-932
• 14 Literak I, Smid B, Valicek L. Papillomatosis in chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) in the Czech Republic and Germany. Veterinarni Medicina – UZPI (Czech Republic). 2003
• 15 Sánchez-Godoy F, Ledesma-Ramírez I, Morales-Salinas E. A retrospective study of neoplasms in ornamental and pet birds diagnosed at the Hospital de Aves of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (2007-2014). BJVP 2020; 13: 1-11 DOI: 10.24070/bjvp.1983-0246.v13i1p1-11.
• 16 Bolte AL, Meurer J, Kaleta EF. Avian host spectrum of avipoxviruses. Avian Pathology 1999; 28: 415-432 DOI: 10.1080/03079459994434.
• 17 Dessureault FG. Disease states, other than West Nile virus infection, in american crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) found dead in Ontario [PhD Thesis]. Ontario, Canada: The University of Guelph; 2014
• 18 Komar N, Langevin S, Hinten S. et al. Experimental infection of North American birds with the New York 1999 strain of West Nile virus. Emerg Infect Dis 2003; 9: 311-322 DOI: 10.3201/eid0903.020628.
• 19 Eidson M, Komar N, Sorhage F. et al. Crow deaths as a sentinel surveillance system for West Nile virus in the northeastern United States, 1999. Emerg Infect Dis 2001; 7: 615-620 DOI: 10.3201/eid0704.010402.
• 20 Nikolay B. A review of West Nile and Usutu virus co-circulation in Europe: how much do transmission cycles overlap?. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2015; 109: 609-618 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trv066.
• 21 Nemeth NM, Gonzalez-Astudillo V, Oesterle PT. et al. A 5-Year retrospective review of avian diseases diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, University of Georgia. Journal of Comparative Pathology 2016; 155: 105-120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2016.05.006.
• 22 Dillberger JE, Citino SB, Altman NH. Four cases of neoplasia in captive wild birds. Avian Dis 1987; 31: 206 DOI: 10.2307/1590798.
• 23 Miller RE, Fowler ME. eds. Fowler’s Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine. 8^th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2014
• 24 McAloose D, St. Leger J, Terio KA eds. Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals. London: Elsevier Academic Press; 2018
• 25 Trupkiewicz J, Garner MM, Juan-Sallés C. Passeriformes, Caprimulgiformes, Coraciiformes, Piciformes, Bucerotiformes, and Apodiformes. In: McAloose D, St. Leger J, Terio KA, eds. Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals. London: Elsevier Academic Press; 2018: 799-823 DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-805306-5.00033-X
• 26 Cooper JE. A adenocarcinoma in a buzzard (Buteo buteo). Avian Pathology 1978; 7: 29-34 DOI: 10.1080/03079457808418257.
• 27 Dillehay DL, Schoeb TR, Ranglack GS. Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the tongue in a great horned owl. Veterinary Pathology 1985; 520-521
• 28 Pemberton RT. Helminth parasites of some British birds. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 1960; 3: 455-463 DOI: 10.1080/00222936008651044.
• 29 Yabsley MJ. Capillarid Nematodes: Section III: Helminths. In: Atkinson CT, Hunter DB, Thomas NJ, eds. Parasitic diseases of wild birds. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell; 2008: 463-497
• 30 Deplazes P, Eckert J, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Zahner H. Lehrbuch der Parasitologie für die Tiermedizin. 3. Aufl. Stuttgart: Enke Verlag; 2013
• 31 Hurst GA, Turner LW, Tucker FS. Capillariasis in penned wild turkeys. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 1979
• 32 Turrel JM, McMillan MC, Paul-Murphy J. Diagnosis and treatment of tumors of companion birds I. AAV Today 1987; 1: 109 DOI: 10.2307/27670245.
• 33 Reavill DR. Tumors of pet birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2004; 7: 537-560 v DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2004.04.008.
• 34 Noonan BP, de Matos R, Butler BP. et al. Nasal adenocarcinoma and secondary chronic sinusitis in a hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 2014; 28: 143-150
• 35 Zehner AM, Kent MS. Avian neoplasia: current challenges and future directions. In: Association of Avian Veterinarians, Eds. Proceedings of the 32nd annual Association Avian Veterinarian conference 2011; 27-35
• 36 Robertson J, Guzman DS-M, Sinnott D. et al. Modified tail amputation technique in a blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) with uropygial gland adenocarcinoma. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 2020; 34: 57-64 DOI: 10.1647/1082-6742-34.1.57.
• 37 Robat CS, Ammersbach M, Mans C. Avian Oncology: Diseases, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2017; 20: 57-86 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2016.07.009.
• 38 Barron HW, Roberts RE, Latimer KS. et al. Tolerance doses of cutaneous and mucosal tissues in ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri) for external beam megavoltage radiation. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 2009; 23: 6-9 DOI: 10.1647/2008-012R.1.