Cerebral astrocytoma in a sheep
Ghasem Farjanikish1, Azizollah Khodakaram-Tafti2, Omid Dezfoulian1
1Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.
Veterinary Research Forum : an International Quarterly Journal
|November 1, 2017
Summary
A rare cerebral protoplasmic astrocytoma was diagnosed in a sheep, presenting with neurological signs like blindness and head pressing. This finding expands the differential diagnosis for central nervous system lesions in sheep.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Comparative Pathology
- Neoplastic Diseases
Background:
- Astrocytomas are common central nervous system (CNS) tumors in various species.
- Reports of astrocytoma in veterinary literature, particularly in sheep, are infrequent.
Observation:
- A 7-year-old Persian Lori-Bakhtiari ewe exhibited progressive blindness, nystagmus, impaired pupillary reflexes, head pressing, and paddling over two months.
- Necropsy revealed a well-circumscribed, whitish mass (3.50×2.50×1.50 cm) in the left cerebral hemisphere's dorsal parietal lobe.
Findings:
- Histopathological examination showed a highly cellular, well-circumscribed neoplasm composed of round to elongated cells with scant cytoplasm and round to oval nuclei.
- Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed positive staining for vimentin, S100, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).
- The findings supported a diagnosis of cerebral protoplasmic astrocytoma.
Implications:
- This case highlights cerebral protoplasmic astrocytoma as a potential diagnosis for CNS lesions in sheep.
- The study emphasizes the importance of considering rare CNS neoplasms in veterinary diagnostics.
- Further investigation into astrocytoma prevalence and characteristics in sheep may be warranted.
