Prevalence of psammoma bodies in meninges and choroid plexuses of raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Parramore Island, Virginia.
Microscopic evidence of multifocal mineralizations (psammoma bodies) were seen in brains of 33/53 (62%) raccoons (Procyon lotor) necropsied on Parramore Island, Virginia. Most mineralized foci had concentric laminations and were present in small capillaries of meninges of the brain (15/33), in choroid plexus (3/33), or at both these sites (13/33). In 2 raccoons, the lesions were confined to the meninges of the proximal cervical spinal cord. In most cases, the affected vessels appeared to have been completely occluded. However, no evidence of ischemic changes in the brain parenchyma was seen, and none of the raccoons had abnormal neurologic signs prior to euthanasia. The condition appears to be a common incidental histopathologic finding in raccoons from the eastern United States. Although the exact cause of this condition is not known, a primary vascular insult with resultant dystrophic mineralization of the affected vessels is suspected.
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
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Hamir
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Hanlon
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Rupprecht
D000818:Animals; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000032:analysis; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008578:Meninges / Q000473:pathology; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D011821:Raccoons
D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; C030781:magnesium phosphate; D002119:Calcium Carbonate