OBJECTIVE: To determine the phenotype of naturally developing lymphomas in young ferrets. ANIMALS: 10 ferrets with lymphoma. PROCEDURE: Neoplastic tissues were graded histologically according to the National Cancer Institute's Working Formulation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and phenotype was determined by means of immunohistochemical staining. A polyclonal anti-human CD3 and a monoclonal anti-human CD79 antibody were used to classify the lymphomas in situ as T-cell or B-cell origin. Specificity of antibodies was determined by evaluating lymphoid tissue from normal ferrets in situ, which was confirmed by western blot analyses. RESULTS: All 10 ferrets had clinically aggressive tumors, irrespective of the phenotype. Nine ferrets had T-cell lymphoma that extensively involved the mediastinum. Remnants of thymic tissue, indicative of thymic origin, were identified in lymphoma of these 9 ferrets. One ferret had a B-cell multicentric lymphoma without involvement of the mediastinum. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of lymphomas in these young ferrets involved the mediastinum and were of T-cell phenotype. Impact for Human Medicine-There are many similarities between the lymphoma syndrome of ferrets and the condition documented for cats and children with lymphoma of the mediastinal area. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Differential diagnoses for young ferrets with clinical signs of lethargy or respiratory distress should include T-cell lymphoma of the mediastinum.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the phenotype of naturally developing lymphomas in young ferrets. ANIMALS: 10 ferrets with lymphoma. PROCEDURE: Neoplastic tissues were graded histologically according to the National Cancer Institute's Working Formulation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and phenotype was determined by means of immunohistochemical staining. A polyclonal anti-human CD3 and a monoclonal anti-human CD79 antibody were used to classify the lymphomas in situ as T-cell or B-cell origin. Specificity of antibodies was determined by evaluating lymphoid tissue from normal ferrets in situ, which was confirmed by western blot analyses. RESULTS: All 10 ferrets had clinically aggressive tumors, irrespective of the phenotype. Nine ferrets had T-cell lymphoma that extensively involved the mediastinum. Remnants of thymic tissue, indicative of thymic origin, were identified in lymphoma of these 9 ferrets. One ferret had a B-cell multicentric lymphoma without involvement of the mediastinum. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of lymphomas in these young ferrets involved the mediastinum and were of T-cell phenotype. Impact for Human Medicine-There are many similarities between the lymphoma syndrome of ferrets and the condition documented for cats and children with lymphoma of the mediastinal area. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Differential diagnoses for young ferrets with clinical signs of lethargy or respiratory distress should include T-cell lymphoma of the mediastinum.
Authors: Miriam M Shanaman; Mark A Mitchell; Samantha Haskins; Ken Welle; Zoltan Demeter; Shih-Hsuan Hsiao; Sandra Murrell-Ritter; Robert T O'Brien Journal: J Exot Pet Med Date: 2012-07-30 Impact factor: 0.453