Multiple cutaneous capillary haemangioma in a red partridge (Alectoris rufa)

A 6-year-old healthy decoy red partridge (Alectoris rufa) developed rapidly growing multiple cutaneous nodules in the dorsal aspect of the neck. Histologically, they were distinctly exophytic growths composed of variably-sized blood vessels often surrounded by solid masses of endothelial-like cells set in an oedematous stroma with abundant inflammatory cells. They were diagnosed as multiple cutaneous capillary haemangiomas. These tumours have been described in chickens in association with viral infections and in old budgerigars, but not in partridges.