Endogenous lipoid pneumonia associated with pulmonary neoplasia in three dogs

Endogenous lipid pneumonia in a ringed seal (Pusa hispida subsp. ochotensis)

An adult female ringed seal died suddenly and was subsequently examined for diagnostic purposes. The animal's lungs demonstrated mild non-collapsibility and multifocal white to yellow patches. Histopathological examination revealed multifocal pulmonary histiocytosis. Alveoli were filled with numerous foamy macrophages cytoplasm and scattered multinucleated giant cells containing cholesterol clefts. The foamy cytoplasm of the macrophages stained with oil red O stain. Further, lipid droplets within the cytoplasm were detected by electron microscopy. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case report describing the histochemical staining and electron microscopic findings associated with endogenous lipid pneumonia in ringed seal.

Pathological Findings in African Pygmy Hedgehogs Admitted into a Portuguese Rehabilitation Center

Most of the pathologies that affect hedgehogs are diagnosed postmortem; thus, it is essential to share knowledge between clinicians and pathologists in order to recognize predispositions to diseases and to establish adequate diagnostic and therapeutic plans. This study aimed to describe the most relevant postmortem pathological conditions in a group of six rescued African pygmy hedgehogs, performed over a period of four months. Hedgehogs were submitted to necropsy examinations and subsequent histopathological analyses. Microscopically, all the studied hedgehogs revealed alterations in one or more organ systems. Although a significant and diverse number of pathological conditions were obtained, this study focused on less common or more relevant pathologies found in African pygmy hedgehogs-namely, wobbly hedgehog syndrome, squamous cell carcinoma and mast cell tumors. Furthermore, this study constitutes the first report of Mycobacterium spp. in hedgehogs in Portugal, the second report of follicular thyroid carcinoma in an African pygmy hedgehog, the description of a lipoid pneumonia for the first time in this species and a lung adenocarcinoma-a pathology rarely reported in African pygmy hedgehogs.