Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

Published by: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 38(2):333-336. 2007
doi: 10.1638/1042-7260(2007)038[0333:TOMLIA]2.0.CO;2

TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA IN AN AFRICAN LION (PANTHERA LEO)

Tara M. HarrisonD.V.M., M.P.V.M., James SikarskieD.V.M., M.S., Dipl. A.C.Z.M., Barbara KitchellD.V.M., Ph.D., Diana S. RosensteinD.V.M., M.S., Dipl. A.C.V.R., Heather FlahertyD.V.M., Scott D. FitzgeraldD.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. A.C.V.P., Dipl. A.C.P.V., and Matti KiupelD.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. A.C.V.P.

101From the Potter Park Zoo, 1301 South Pennsylvania, Lansing, Michigan 48912, USA (Harrison); Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA (Harrison, Kitchell, Rosenstein, Sikarskie); Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, 4125 Beaumont Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48910, USA (Fitzgerald, Flaherty, Kiupel). Correspondence should be directed to Dr. Harrison (tharriso@ci.lansing.mi.us)

Abstract

A 14 yr-old male, vasectomized African lion (Panthera leo) exhibited mild weight loss despite adequate appetite. Splenomegaly was diagnosed on physical examination. On the basis of hematology and clinical pathology, malignant lymphoma with chronic lymphocytic leukemia was diagnosed. Abdominal exploratory surgery and splenectomy were performed. Histologic examination and immunohistochemistry confirmed a small cell peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Initial treatments consisted of doxorubicin and prednisone, with later addition of lomustine. The lion remained in clinical remission at 2 mo, 6 mo, and 12 mo postchemotherapy physical examinations. The lion survived 504 days from initial diagnosis. At necropsy, the only lesions consistent with lymphoma were localized epitheliotrophic infiltrates of small neoplastic T lymphocytes within the nasopharyngeal epithelium and the underlying submucosa observed on microscopic examination.

Received: July 6, 2005

Keywords: African lion, chemotherapy, felid, lymphoma, Panthera leo



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Figure 1.Blood smear from a lion with T-cell lymphoma. The lymphocytes were primarily medium to large lymphocytes. These cells had finely stippled chromatin and scant to moderate amounts of blue cytoplasm that often had azurophilic granules. Modified Wrights stain, magnification ×100. Figure 2.Histologic section of a T-zone splenic lymphoma in a lion. The neoplastic lymphoid cells were small to medium sized, with pleomorphic, often hyperchromatic, indented nuclei with clumped chromatin and indistinct nucleoli and abundant water-clear cytoplasm. Fewer immunoblasts were admixed with these cells. H&E, bar = 20 μm.

Cited by

Ursula Käppeli,Ulrike Eulenberger,Dagmar Nitzl,Carla Rohrer Bley,Frank Steffen,Titus Sydler,Nicole Schmid,Jean-Michel Hatt,Hanspeter W. Steinmetz,. (2009) Clinical Challenge. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 40:2, 398-401
Online publication date: 1-Jun-2009.

Citation : Full Text : PDF (436 KB) 

Tara M. Harrison, James Sikarskie, John Kruger, Annabel Wise, Thomas P. Mullaney, Matti Kiupel, Roger K. Maes. (2007) SYSTEMIC CALICIVIRUS EPIDEMIC IN CAPTIVE EXOTIC FELIDS. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 38:2, 292-299
Online publication date: 1-Jun-2007.

Abstract & References : Full Text : PDF (685 KB) 

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