Systemic mastocytosis and probable mast cell leukaemia in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of mast cell neoplasia in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

An adult female koala was presented for rapidly deteriorating health and death of a pouch young. Significant weight loss was apparent despite supplemental feeding; the abdomen was distended; and the koala was weak and mentally depressed. Haematology revealed a significant mastocytosis with a concurrent population of atypical mononuclear cells. The koala was euthanised and tissues were collected for histology. Bone marrow, lymph node, lung, stomach and spleen exhibited significant infiltration by mast cells. Atypical round cells consistent with those identified in the peripheral blood were also identified in the marrow. A diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis and probable mast cell leukaemia was made. Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical staining was not able to further characterise the atypical cell population, and the mast cells exhibited only weak staining with CD117.

The histological diagnosis, in this case, was systemic mastocytosis and myeloproliferative disease of uncertain origin. There was a dominant population of mast cells in the peripheral blood and marrow, and a population of circulating atypical mononuclear cells, appearing similar to mast cell leukaemia-acute myeloid leukaemia in humans.