CUTANEOUS EPITHELIOTROPIC T-CELL LYMPHOMA WITH METASTASES IN A VIRGINIA OPOSSUM (DIDELPHIS VIRGINIANA)

Abstract

A 2-yr-old, captive, intact female Virginia opossum ( Didelphis virginiana ) with a 7-mo history of ulcerative dermatitis and weight loss was euthanatized for progressive worsening of clinical signs. Initially the opossum was treated with several courses of antibiotics, both topically and systemically; systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication; and, later, systemic glucocorticoids, with no improvement in clinical signs. Histopathologic samples of skin lesions taken 3 mo into the course of disease revealed no evidence of neoplasia; however, cytologic samples of a skin lesion taken 5 mo into the course of disease revealed mature lymphocytes, and were suggestive of cutaneous lymphoma. Postmortem histopathology revealed neoplastic cells consistent with lymphoma; these were found in the haired skin of the forearm, axilla, hind limb, face, and lateral body wall, as well as the liver, kidney, axillary lymph node, heart, and spleen. Multifocal neutrophilic and eosinophilic ulcerative and necrotizing dermatitis and folliculitis of the haired skin were also present. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first documented case of cutaneous lymphoma in a Virginia opossum and the first documented case with visceral metastases in a marsupial.

Spontaneous neoplasms in captive Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana): a retrospective case series (1989–2014) and review of the literature

“…2,14,23 In our study, the majority of the documented neoplasms, 82% (14 of 17) were malignant, which is consistent with previous reports in the literature. 2,10,14,16,17,21 Squamous cell carcinoma has been previously reported in the oral cavity of a Virginia opossum and was located on the tongue, 14 whereas it was located on the maxilla in case 12 in our study. The previously reported basal cell tumor 22 may have been a trichoblastoma, as in the current study, as the microscopic description was consistent and basal cell tumors have become further classified.…”

“…Because neither CD20 nor CD79 identified normal B-lymphocytes in opossums, the possibility remains that the neoplasm in the heart and kidney was a lymphosarcoma of B-cell origin. Cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma with visceral metastasis was previously reported in a single Virginia opossum, 10 and lymphosarcoma, unknown B-or T-cell origin, was previously diagnosed in 2 Virginia opossums. 2,16 Neoplasia is common in other species of opossums and possums, as well.…”

Cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma in a baboon (Papiospp.): A case report and a brief literature review

“…CEL is a subgroup of epitheliotropic lymphoma, which is a rare neoplasm of T cells with tropism to epidermis and adnexal structures . CEL is characterized by an abundance of CD3+ T cells and their migration into the epidermis and adnexal structures of the skin, with the presence of infiltrates such as plasma cells, eosinophils, histiocytes, and frequent clustering of T lymphocytes around the dendritic cells forming Pautrier's microabscesses (not present in the this case) . In several studies analyzing CELs, canid species have been shown to illustrate the CD3+CD4−CD8+ phenotype .…”

“…CEL has been widely reported in dogs and cats . However, reports of CEL in other species are rare and include cows, hamsters, mice, and single reports in a rat, ferret, squirrel, coati, cuscus, chipmunk, zebrafish, hedgehog, Tasmanian devil, opossum, marsh rice rat, and alpaca . There are currently no reports of CEL in NHPs.…”

Histomorphometrical study on the skin of different regions of the Caribbean common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758)

“…Three species of fur mites were found on the opossum (Stankiewicz et al., 1996). Neoplastic cells consistent with lymphoma were found in the haired skin of the forearm, axilla and pelvic limbs of a female Virginia opossum (Higbie et al., 2015). The ringworm caused by T .…”