Ductal Plate Malformations in Captive Snakes

Abstract

Ductal plate malformations are abnormalities in the liver that arise from inappropriate or incomplete remodeling of the embryologic ductal plate. Various types of ductal plate malformations are reported in the human and veterinary literature, most commonly affecting domestic mammalian species but also fish. We investigated the occurrence and described the histopathologic features of ductal plate malformations in captive snakes. Malformations were identified in 18 snakes: 10 colubrids, 6 vipers, and 2 boids. There was no sex predilection, and the mean age was 17 years. The majority of lesions were incidental with most snakes having one or more comorbidities, most commonly neoplasia or systemic inflammation, that resulted in natural death or euthanasia. Ductal plate malformations in all livers were broadly characterized by a well-demarcated nodule of irregular bile ducts embedded within a varying amount of fibrous stroma. Malformations were further categorized based on the amount of fibrous stroma and dilation of the bile ducts as von Meyenburg complexes, cystic liver disease, and/or an intermediate hybrid subtype representative of cysts arising within von Meyenburg complexes. Histochemical and immunohistochemical staining, including Gomori’s trichome and pan-cytokeratin, respectively, were applied on select cases to confirm histologic features. Malignant transformation was not identified within this population.

Multiple biliary duct hamartomas in a cat resulting in a hepatic mass: A case report

“…These structures are supported and surrounded by abundant fibrous connective tissue (Kim & Jin, 2011 ; Torbenson, 2018 ). While these findings can also be seen in biliary adenoma or cystadenomas, a single compressing lesion and a lesion lacking hepatocytes are key microscopic features favouring an adenoma (Patania et al., 2021 ). In this case, the cat presented with multiple cyst‐like lesions of similar findings in addition to the main BDH.…”

“…Reports of hepatic and biliary duct hamartoma (BDHs) in veterinary medicine are scarce and have been described in dogs (Gualtieri et al, 2009;McGavin & Henry, 1972), in cattle (Ladds, 1983), in an equine fetus (Roperto & Galati, 1984), in a calf (Bosschere & Ducatelle, 1999), in snakes (Patania et al, 2021) and in a rabbit (Starost, 2007). Due to the few reports of BDHs in veterinary medicine, most of the informa-This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.…”

“…In veterinary medicine, they have similarly been found incidentally after investigation for abdominal distension or on necropsy (Gualtieri et al, 2009;Patania et al, 2021;Roperto & Galati, 1984;Starost, 2007). Its rarity and varied clinical appearance make management and diagnosis of this illness difficult without histopathologic identification in both human and veterinary medicine; however, once a definitive diagnosis is reached they tend to have a generally positive outcome.…”

“…Reports of hepatic and biliary duct hamartoma (BDHs) in veterinary medicine are scarce and have been described in dogs (Gualtieri et al., 2009 ; McGavin & Henry, 1972 ), in cattle (Ladds, 1983 ), in an equine fetus (Roperto & Galati, 1984 ), in a calf (Bosschere & Ducatelle, 1999 ), in snakes (Patania et al., 2021 ) and in a rabbit (Starost, 2007 ). Due to the few reports of BDHs in veterinary medicine, most of the information stems from the common findings within human literature.…”