Oligodendrogliom mit neuronaler Differenzierung bei einem 8 Monate alten Afrikanischen Weißbauchigel (Atelerix albiventris)

Abstract

An 8-month-old, male African hedgehog clinically displayed a wobbly walk, anuria, inappetence and apathy, whereupon the suspected diagnosis wobbly hedgehog syndrome was made. After exacerbation, the hedgehog was euthanized. Histologically, a tumour mainly consisting of medium-sized, oval tumour cells and a smaller number of spindeloid cells was found in the cerebrum. The tumour contained neuropil islets and extracellular myxoid material. Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells expressed oligodendroglial (neurite outgrowth inhibitor, Nogo-A; oligodendrocyte transcription factor, Olig-2) and neuronal (neuron-specific enolase, NSE; microtubule-associated protein-2a, MAP-2a; synaptophysin) cell markers. Based on these findings, an oligodendroglioma with neuronal differentiation was diagnosed. Such a brain tumour has to date not been reported for African hedgehogs. At necropsy, a severely filled and dilated urinary bladder was observed, which was presumably caused by a central blockade of the micturition centre in the brain. In the case of neurological symptoms in young hedgehogs, a primary brain tumour should, as in adults, be considered as a differential diagnosis. As further differentials, inflammatory-infectious (rabies, herpes, baylisascariosis), degenerative (cardiomyopathy, intervertebral-disc disease), traumatic, alimentary (vitamin-B deficiency) and metabolic-toxic (heat-cold-torpor, hepatic encephalopathy) triggers have to be considered.

Case Report: Primary Diffuse Leptomeningeal Oligodendrogliomatosis in a Young Adult Cat

“…Synaptophysin immunopositivity, as observed in the present case, has been reported in human and canine oligodendrogliomas and diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumors ( 8 , 10 , 33 ) as well as in an oligendroglioma with neuronal differentiation in an African hedgehog ( 32 ) and two dogs ( 34 ). However, immunopositivity seems to be variable, as there are also reports of oligodendroglial tumors and primary diffuse leptomeningeal oligodendroglial tumors which were immunonegative for synaptophysin ( 35 , 36 ).…”

“…Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) immunopositivity was reported in canine oligodendroglioma, ( 31 ) in the previously described case of a cat with primary leptomeningeal gliomatosis, and an African hedgehog with an oligodendroglioma with neuronal differentiation ( 19 , 31 , 32 ).…”