Spontaneous subcutaneous myxosarcoma in a captive European hedgehog (Erinsceus europaeus).
A surgically excised biopsy representing a subcutaneous mass on the left side of the neck from a 3-year-old female European hedgehog (Erinsceus europaeus) was presented. Spontaneous myxosarcoma was diagnosed based on histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural characteristics. The neoplasm grossly consisted of a firm, pale, multilobulated mass with a characteristic clear gelatinous fluid. Histologically, the neoplasm was nonencapsulated and composed of pleomorphic stellate or spindle-shaped vimentin and periodic acid-Schiff-positive cells arranged in loose sheets and occasionally whorls. The neoplastic cells were suspended in Alcian blue-positive stroma and contained infrequent mitotic figures. Evidence of a viral etiology was not detected using electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. This is the first case report of a myxosarcoma in a captive European hedgehog.
Singh
Kuldeep
K
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
Blas-Machado
Uriel
U
Cooper
Emily J
EJ
Caseltine
Shannon L
SL
Nordhausen
Robert
R
D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D006364:Hedgehogs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D009236:Myxosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary