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Case Reports
. 2019 Nov;31(6):852-855.
doi: 10.1177/1040638719875501. Epub 2019 Sep 24.

Disseminated thymic B-cell lymphoma in a Holstein heifer

Wan N A D Hishamnuri  1   2   3 , Shotaro Nakagun  1   2   3 , Masaki Maezawa  1   2   3 , Kana Sakaguchi  1   2   3 , Nao Akiyama  1   2   3 , Ken-Ichi Watanabe  1   2   3 , Noriyuki Horiuchi  1   2   3 , Yoshiyasu Kobayashi  1   2   3 , Hisashi Inokuma  1   2   3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Disseminated thymic B-cell lymphoma in a Holstein heifer

Wan N A D Hishamnuri et al. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

A 19-mo-old Holstein heifer was inactive and dyspneic. Physical examination revealed wheezing, exophthalmos, a cervical mass, and lymphadenopathy. Cytology of the cervical mass and lymph nodes showed predominantly large atypical lymphocytes. Lactate dehydrogenase and thymidine kinase activities were elevated. Although nested PCR for bovine leukemia virus (BLV) using blood was positive, quantitative PCR showed a low number of provirus copies. Autopsy revealed enlargement of most lymph nodes examined, as well as white masses of various sizes in muscles of the left hindlimb and thoracic and abdominal organs. Histopathology revealed severe infiltration with neoplastic lymphocytes in these organs. The cervical mass was immune-positive for B-cell markers. The final diagnosis was thymic B-cell lymphoma with BLV infection.

Keywords: B-cell; bovine leukemia virus; cattle; thymic lymphoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect in the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Disseminated thymic B-cell lymphoma in a Holstein heifer. The ventral neck is enlarged by firm nodules (arrows).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Disseminated thymic B-cell lymphoma in a Holstein heifer. A. Masses in the thymus (white arrow) and along the trachea (black arrow); the trachea is indicated with a white arrowhead. B. A cross-section of cervical mass has a solid, pale, multinodular surface.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Disseminated thymic B-cell lymphoma in a Holstein heifer. A. Histopathology revealed lymphoid neoplastic cells with marked anisokaryosis and nuclear atypia. H&E. Bar = 50 μm. B. Positive immunostaining for BLA36 in the cytoplasm of most neoplastic cells. Bar = 50 μm. C. Immunostaining for CD20 identified a few immunoreactive neoplastic cells. Bar = 50 μm. D. Atypical, neoplastic cells were negative for CD3; occasional normal T lymphocytes are seen. Bar = 50 μm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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