Placental tumor from an East African bongo (Eurycerus isaaci) fetus

FATAL SYSTEMIC FUNGAL INFECTION IN EASTERN BONGO ANTELOPE (TRAGELAPHUS EURYCERUS ISAACI): SIX CASES

Over a span of 6 yr, six adult eastern bongo antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) from a single institution died due to systemic mycotic infections. All animals were of the same genetic lineage and in good body condition at the time of death. Gross findings in all cases included multifocal white-to-tan nodules up to 10 cm in diameter that were most numerous in the heart, lung, and kidney. Histologic examination identified these nodules as foci of granulomatous inflammation containing branching, septate, broad, undulating fungal elements. Identification of the fungal species was pursued using PCR with sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and culture. Multiple fungal species were identified using the various modalities, and commonality of species identification was limited to Cladosporium sp. in four of the cases. The clinical and postmortem findings in these cases were identical and were considered to be the same infectious disease. The Cladosporium sp. was considered a candidate as an emerging fatal infectious agent in this population of bongo antelopes. In all of these cases, death was attributed to conduction abnormalities associated with the cardiac lesions or euthanasia.

Benign placental mass with fetal growth retardation in a bull mastiff

A 4-year-old bull mastiff presented due to premature labour. The referring veterinarian elected to perform a caesarian delivery and at the time of surgery a 4×4×2 cm round, smooth, red to tan, lobulated soft mass was identified attached to the allantoic surface of the zonary placenta of one pup. Microscopically, this mass was composed of loosely arranged confluent undulating cords of polygonal to columnar epithelioid cells separated by a fine fibrovascular stroma resembling the placental labyrinth. The labyrinthine structure and epithelioid nature of the cells suggested that the mass was of trophoblastic origin. Due to the non-invasive nature of the mass and relatively low mitotic activity, this proliferative trophoblastic mass was considered to be benign. The absence of morphological features supporting malignant behaviour and the recapitulation of the normal labyrinthine architecture led to the diagnosis of a trophoblastic hamartoma. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of a placental hamartoma in the dog.