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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(19); 2560; doi: 10.3390/ani12192560

Thoracic and Abdominal Mesothelioma in an Older Horse in Lazio Region.

Abstract: A Quarter Horse, a gelding aged 22, was subjected to a clinical examination for colic syndrome. During admission to the clinic, blood counts and ultrasound examination were performed. Ultrasound revealed abdominal masses and abundant accumulation of pleural (50 L) and abdominal fluid (100 L). Cytology was performed on the aspirated fluid. The patient was euthanized. The autopsy examination revealed abundant effusion and nodular masses on the peritoneum, omentum, lungs, heart, and mediastinum. A diagnosis of epithelioid mesothelioma was made via histopathology and confirmed with immunohistochemistry; it showed positive antibodies against cytokeratin (CK) and vimentin. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer in older horses. It is important to employ the correct differential diagnostics using the available methods, providing valid ante-mortem support to the clinical veterinarian and monitoring the territory using this species as a valid biological indicator.
Publication Date: 2022-09-25 PubMed ID: 36230301PubMed Central: PMC9559699DOI: 10.3390/ani12192560Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Case Reports

Summary

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The research article discusses the diagnosis and autopsy examination of a 22-year-old horse with colic syndrome that revealed epithelioid mesothelioma, a rare cancer in older horses, reaffirming the need for correct differential diagnostics for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Case Presentation

  • The subject of the study was a 22-year-old gelding Quarter Horse presenting with colic syndrome. During the clinical examination at admission, a blood count and ultrasound examination were conducted.
  • The ultrasound revealed abnormalities like abdominal masses and excessive accumulation of pleural and abdominal fluid. The horse had about 50 liters of pleural fluid and 100 liters of abdominal fluid, which was more than average.

Cytology and Euthanization

  • A cytology test, a type of microscopic examination that’s commonly used in cancer diagnoses, was carried out on the aspirated (or drained) fluid. This test gives insights into the types and characteristics of cells present in the fluid, helping with diagnosis.
  • Given the horse’s deteriorating conditions and the results of tests, it was decided to euthanize the animal for humane reasons.

Post-Mortem/Diagnosis

  • After euthanization, an autopsy was performed. The examination showed extensive effusion, or fluid accumulation, and nodular masses across various parts of the horse’s body, including the peritoneum, omentum, lungs, heart, and mediastinum (the area between the lungs).
  • The abnormalities, particularly the nodular masses, raised suspicion for mesothelioma. To confirm this suspicion, a pathological diagnosis was made.
  • The resultant diagnosis was epithelioid mesothelioma, a form of cancer that affects the tissue layer (mesothelium) serving as protective lining for internal organs.

Immunohistochemistry Examination

  • A immunohistochemistry test was conducted to validate the mesothelioma diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry is a common method used to corroborate pathologic diagnosis by identifying the presence of disease-specific proteins.
  • This test showed that the horse exhibited positive antibodies against cytokeratin (CK) and vimentin. Both these proteins serve as indicators for mesothelioma when present in abnormal amounts or locations.

Conclusion

  • The rarity and seriousness of mesothelioma in older horses underscore the importance of utilizing correct differential diagnostic methods to detect and analyze such conditions effectively.
  • The species can act as an effective biological indicator, helping in monitoring mesothelioma and other serious diseases within a specific region or population.

Cite This Article

APA
(2022). Thoracic and Abdominal Mesothelioma in an Older Horse in Lazio Region. Animals (Basel), 12(19), 2560. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192560

Publication

ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 19
PII: 2560

Researcher Affiliations

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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