Acute basophilic leukaemia in a three-month-old calf

Abstract

A three-month-old female Holstein–Friesian calf was presented with acute tetraparesis. After neurological examination a multifocal lesion in the central nervous system was suspected with the most pronounced lesions between the third thoracic and the third lumbar vertebrae. Haematological examination revealed moderate anaemia as well as severe thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and leucocytosis. A blood smear and bone marrow aspirate exhibited predominantly blasts with basophilic granulation leading to a diagnosis of acute (myeloid) leukaemia with involvement of the basophilic lineage or an acute basophilic leukaemia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed spinal cord compression; at necropsy, extensive localised haemorrhages extending into the thoracic vertebral canal were found. Histopathology revealed a large population of blast cells in several tissues including the meninges. Due to multifocal detection of neoplastic cells in the vascular system, neoplasia of the haematopoietic system was assumed in agreement with haematological findings. Signs of paresis could be explained by intramedullary spinal cord haemorrhage and myeloid infiltrations of meningeal vessels. In conclusion, despite its rarity, acute myeloid leukaemia with involvement of the basophilic lineage may be considered in diagnosing calves with progressive deteriorating general condition, paresis, leucocytosis with moderate basophilic differentiation or haemorrhagic disorders.

Neutrophilic Granulocytic Sarcoma and Acute Basophilic Leukemia in Cattle

“…In contrast, in case 2, nearly all leukemia cells resembled their normal counterparts, and discrete differentiation up to the stage of metamyelocytes or myelocytes was detected. The disparity between the numbers of granular cells in blood smears and in tissue sections implies that more mature cells are liable to invade the bloodstream (Laabs et al 2015), although these cells were mitotically less active.…”

“…However, large numbers of copies cannot always be linked to a diagnosis of BLV-associated lymphoma, since they may be observed also in healthy cattle infected with BLV (Chiba et al 2014). Likewise, a diagnosis of basophilic leukemia could not be established by demonstrating the presence of purple cytoplasmic granules in blood smears (Laabs et al 2015), because similar granules are also seen in malignant mast cell tumors (Ikehata et al 2011, Fujimoto et al 2012. Bilineal leukemia or sarcoma is not rare in cattle and swine (Kadota et al 1987, Ikehata et al 2011, Fujimoto et al 2012, and it is not easy to detect the secondary predominating lineage on blood smears.…”

“…Though not examined in sufficient detail, the histology of two acute basophilic leukemias has been described previously (Takahashi et al 2006, Murayama et al 2011). An additional case has recently been reported to be composed of cells of the basophil series, based solely on the observation of purple intracytoplasmic granules in blood and bone marrow smears (Laabs et al 2015). Unfortunately, in that paper, basophil tumor cells could not be distinguished from malignant mast cells, which also contain granules staining purple with Giemsa (Ikehata et al 2011, Fujimoto et al 2012.…”

Bandscheibenveränderungen des Hundes in der bildgebenden Diagnostik

“…Dieses Gas liegt zunächst gelöst im extrazellulären Raum vor. Man vermutet, dass ein fokaler Unterdruck in der Bandscheibenläsion eine Diffusion in die Läsion fördert (24,51). Diese Gasansammlung in der Bandscheibe, die sowohl durch degenerative Zustände als auch durch Bandscheibenvorfälle und mechanische Traumata entstehen kann, wird als intervertebrales Vakuumphänomen bezeichnet (34,58,71).…”

“…Die Dura mater spinalis kann lokale Mineraleinlagerungen aufweisen, die im Röntgenbild strichförmig, knochendicht sichtbar werden (36,51). Ist in einem derartigen Fall Bandscheibenmaterial disloziert, wird die Dura in der Regel mit nach dorsal verschoben.…”