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Armando F, Pigoli C, Gambini M, Ghidelli A, Ghisleni G, Corradi A, Passeri B, Caniatti M, Grieco V, Baumgärtner W, Puff C. Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors Resembling Human Atypical Neurofibroma in Goldfish ( Carassius auratus, Linnaeus, 1758). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092621. [PMID: 34573587 PMCID: PMC8467327 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In animals, especially in fish, dermal neoplasms are a common finding. A distinction between peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) and other spindle cell tumors (SCTs) is not always possible when relying exclusively on routine cytological and histopathological findings. The current study aims to determine a minimal subset of stains required to correctly identify PNSTs in goldfish and describes, in detail, six dermal nodules that resemble atypical neurofibroma in humans. Interestingly, muscular and fibroblastic tumors were excluded using Azan trichrome staining, while Alcian blue and Gomori’s reticulin stains revealed the presence of intratumoral areas of mucins and basement membrane fragments, respectively. In addition, PAS and PAS with diastase pretreatment confirmed the latter finding and revealed intra- and extracellular glycogen granules. Immunohistochemistry displayed reactivity for S100 protein, CNPase, and phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated neurofilament-positive axons. Altogether, these findings suggested that Azan trichrome staining, Gomori’s reticulin staining, and immunohistochemistry for S100 protein and CNPase represent a useful set of stains to identify and characterize PNSTs in goldfish. Abstract Skin spindle cell tumors (SSTs) frequently occur in fishes, with peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) being the most commonly reported neoplasms in goldfish. However, distinguishing PNSTs from other SCTs is not always possible when relying exclusively on routine cytological and histopathological findings. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterize six skin nodules, resembling atypical neurofibromas in humans, found in six cohabiting goldfish (Carassius auratus), and to determine a minimal subset of special stains required to correctly identify PNSTs in this species. Routine cytology and histopathology were indicative of an SCT with nuclear atypia in all cases, with randomly distributed areas of hypercellularity and loss of neurofibroma architecture. Muscular and fibroblastic tumors were excluded using Azan trichrome staining. Alcian blue and Gomori’s reticulin stains revealed the presence of intratumoral areas of glycosaminoglycans or mucins and basement membrane fragments, respectively. PAS and PAS–diastase stains confirmed the latter finding and revealed intra- and extracellular glycogen granules. Immunohistochemistry displayed multifocal, randomly distributed aggregates of neoplastic cells positive for S100 protein and CNPase, intermingled with phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated neurofilament-positive axons. Collectively, these findings are consistent with a PNST resembling atypical neurofibroma in humans, an entity not previously reported in goldfish, and suggest that Azan trichrome staining, reticulin staining, and immunohistochemistry for S100 protein and CNPase represent a useful set of special stains to identify and characterize PNSTs in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Armando
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (F.A.); (M.G.); (C.P.)
- Pathology Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Parma, Strada del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.C.); (B.P.)
| | - Claudio Pigoli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria (DIMEVET), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.P.); (G.G.); (M.C.); (V.G.)
- Laboratorio di Istologia, Sede Territoriale di Milano, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Matteo Gambini
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (F.A.); (M.G.); (C.P.)
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria (DIMEVET), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.P.); (G.G.); (M.C.); (V.G.)
| | - Andrea Ghidelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Parma, Strada del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy;
| | - Gabriele Ghisleni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria (DIMEVET), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.P.); (G.G.); (M.C.); (V.G.)
- Biessea Laboratorio Analisi Veterinarie, Via Amedeo D’Aosta 7, 20129 Milano, Italy
| | - Attilio Corradi
- Pathology Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Parma, Strada del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.C.); (B.P.)
| | - Benedetta Passeri
- Pathology Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Parma, Strada del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.C.); (B.P.)
| | - Mario Caniatti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria (DIMEVET), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.P.); (G.G.); (M.C.); (V.G.)
| | - Valeria Grieco
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria (DIMEVET), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.P.); (G.G.); (M.C.); (V.G.)
| | - Wolfgang Baumgärtner
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (F.A.); (M.G.); (C.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Christina Puff
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (F.A.); (M.G.); (C.P.)
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Abstract
Similar to higher vertebrates, neoplasia is not an uncommon disease in fishes, which are the largest group of vertebrates. However,neoplasia in fishes is generally a benign condition with relatively few exceptions of malignant disease. The objective of this discussion is to provide an overview of neoplasia and the various neoplastic disease conditions in fishes according to organ system,including the few neoplasms of species that are familiar to the aquatic animal or exotic animal practitioner. The discussion also considers the various nonneoplastic lesions in fishes that may be confused with neoplasms, and treatment of neoplastic disease in fishes that is generally restricted to surgical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Groff
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Spitsbergen JM, Wolfe MJ. The riddle of hepatic neoplasia in brown bullheads from relatively unpolluted waters in New York State. Toxicol Pathol 1995; 23:716-25. [PMID: 8772257 DOI: 10.1177/019262339502300610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Since 1985, pathologists at Cornell University have investigated the causes of lesions in freshwater fish throughout New York waters in order to clarify possible impairment of fish health by environmental contaminants. Fishermen and biologists alerted us to several relatively protected reservoirs and ponds in which we have found no evidence of elevated levels of anthropogenic environmental contaminants but in which up to 100% of brown bullheads exhibited skin neoplasia. Complete necropsies and histologic study revealed that over 30% of mature brown bullheads from some of these sites had benign or malignant hepatocellular or biliary liver neoplasia. Up to 50% of brown bullheads had benign or malignant liver neoplasia in other relatively unpolluted waters with no evidence of skin neoplasia in bullheads. Multiple samplings of brown bullheads from several of these sites have revealed puzzling variability in the prevalence of skin, liver, and other neoplasia in these fish populations. The cause of these striking epizootics of neoplasia in brown bullheads in unpolluted waters in New York State remains unclear. We hypothesize that natural carcinogens such as N-nitroso compounds formed in aquatic sediments or radon from geologic formations may contribute to epizootic fish neoplasia in New York waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Spitsbergen
- Department of Avian and Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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Pritchard JB. Aquatic toxicology: past, present, and prospects. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 1993; 100:249-57. [PMID: 8354173 PMCID: PMC1519578 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.93100249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic organisms have played important roles as early warning and monitoring systems for pollutant burdens in our environment. However, they have significant potential to do even more, just as they have in basic biology where preparations like the squid axon have been essential tools in establishing physiological and biochemical mechanisms. This review provides a brief summary of the history of aquatic toxicology, focusing on the nature of aquatic contaminants, the levels of contamination in our waters, and the origins of these agents. It considers the features of the aquatic environment that determine the availability of xenobiotics to aquatic life and the fate of foreign chemicals within the organism. Finally, toxic effects are considered with primary emphasis on the potential of aquatic models to facilitate identification of the underlying mechanisms of toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Pritchard
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
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Huff J, Bucher J, Yang R. Carcinogenesis studies in rodents for evaluating risks associated with chemical carcinogens in aquatic food animals. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 1991; 90:127-132. [PMID: 2050050 PMCID: PMC1519487 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.90-1519487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Fish and shellfish caught in polluted waters contain potentially dangerous amounts of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals. Public concern was heightened when a large percentage of winter flounder taken from Boston Harbor was found to have visible cancer of the liver; winter flounder outside the estuary area had no liver lesions. Long-term chemical carcinogenesis studies could be easily and feasibly designed using laboratory rodents offered diets containing fish caught in polluted waters. Induced cancers in rodents would corroborate field observations in fish; positive results from these studies would provide further evidence about potential human health hazards from eating substantial amounts of chemically contaminated fish. Nonetheless, fish and aquatic organisms should be viewed as environmental biological monitors of pollution or of potential human health hazards, and authorities responsible for assuring clean and safe rivers, bodies of water, and biota should give more attention to these valid biological indicators or sentinels of environmental pollution. Consequently, fish and other sea creatures alone should serve as alarms regarding whether water areas constitute public health hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Huff
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
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