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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in a Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)
Matthew Gosbell1, Kathy Luk2, Patricia Macwhirter3
1Melbourne Bird Veterinary Clinic, Scoresby, VIC 3179, Australia, vet@melbournebirdvet.com.
Insights
A cockatiel was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Treatment with chlorambucil stabilized the T-cell lymphoma but did not cause regression, leading to euthanasia 15 months post-diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Avian medicine
- Veterinary oncology
- Hematology
Background:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a neoplastic proliferation of lymphocytes.
- While documented in various species, CLL in birds, particularly cockatiels, is rare.
- This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of avian CLL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in a cockatiel.
- To describe the diagnostic methods and treatment protocols used.
- To discuss the clinical outcome and postmortem findings.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosis involved clinical examination, complete blood count (CBC), bone marrow cytology, and immunohistochemistry.
- Treatment utilized chlorambucil, an oral chemotherapeutic agent, adapted from human protocols.
- Disease progression was monitored via CBC and packed cell volume (PCV).
Main Results:
- The cockatiel presented with marked lymphocytosis and confirmed T-cell origin lymphocytes in bone marrow.
- Chlorambucil treatment stabilized the disease but did not achieve significant tumor regression.
- The bird was euthanatized 15 months after diagnosis due to disease progression.
Conclusions:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can occur in cockatiels and presents diagnostic challenges.
- Treatment protocols adapted from human medicine may stabilize, but not cure, avian CLL.
- Postmortem examination revealed widespread T-cell lymphocytic infiltration, indicating systemic disease.
Abstract:
A 24-year-old, female cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) was diagnosed and treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Diagnosis was based on a persistent lymphocytosis, with counts increasing 10 times from reference intervals with a high percentage of well-differentiated lymphocytes in the bone marrow. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed neoplastic cells of T-cell origin. Specific treatment for the disease was initially withheld but commenced based on an increasing lymphocytosis and decreasing packed cell volume. Therapeutic management of the cockatiel's chronic lymphocytic leukemia was based on human protocols. Treatment with chlorambucil stabilized the disease but did not result in a significant regression of the neoplasm. The bird was euthanatized 15 months after the initial diagnosis and 8 months after treatment commenced. On the postmortem examination, extensive T-cell lymphocytic infiltration was found throughout the internal organs.
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