Pulmonary angiocentric lymphoma (lymphomatoid granulomatosis) in a donkey

Abstract

A 36-year-old donkey developed dyspnoea, pyrexia, hypoalbuminaemia and oedema. Following continued clinical deterioration the donkey was humanely destroyed. Grossly, there were numerous nodules (5-10mm) scattered throughout the lung. Microscopically, the lung was infiltrated by an angiocentric and bronchocentric to diffuse mixed population of small mature and atypical lymphocytes, histiocytes, plasma cells and fewer eosinophils. The infiltrate was composed of numerous small mature and fewer atypical CD3(+) T lymphocytes. Low numbers of CD20(+) and CD79a(+) B cells, some atypical, accompanied the T cells. These infiltrates were consistent with an angiocentric lymphoma and resembled lymphomatoid granulomatosis, an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated human tumour. Immunohistochemistry for EBV latent membrane protein and polymerase chain reaction analysis for equine gamma herpesvirus DNA were negative. To the authors' knowledge this is the first case of angiocentric lymphoma reported in a donkey and the first case of lymphomatoid granulomatosis-type disease in an animal in which possible concurrent infection with a gamma herpesvirus has been investigated.