PRIMARY MENINGEAL T-CELL LYMPHOMA IN A HARBOR SEAL (PHOCA VITULINA)

• Main Authors: Sophie Labrut, Monique Wyers, Julien Miclard, Marie-Anne Colle
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 2007
• Subjects: harbor seal; Phoca vitulina
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1638/1042-7260(2007)038[0323:PMTLIA]2.0.CO;2

A 15-year-old female harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) was referred to the Nantes Veterinary School, Nantes, France, with a clinical history of anorexia, seizures, and left hemiplegia. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed large numbers of neoplastic lymphoid cells. After injection of a contrast agent into the cerebrospinal space, radiographs demonstrated an asymmetry of the right lateral ventricle. Necropsy examination revealed a marked edema of the right frontal lobe, extending to the basal nuclei and thalamus in the brain. Histological examination of the brain revealed leptomeningeal lymphoma. Immunohistochemical labeling demonstrated that the neoplasm was of T-cell origin. No significant macroscopic or microscopic lesions were observed in the other organs examined, including lymphoid organs. This is the first report of primary leptomeningeal lymphoma in a harbor seal.