Metastatic melanoma appearing to originate from the beak of a racing pigeon (Columba livia).
A 12-year-old male pigeon (Columba livia) was reported to have a small lesion on the lower beak, which was diagnosed as malignant melanoma. After surgery to remove it, the general condition of the bird worsened and the bird died. Post mortem examination revealed gross, black-colored lesions in the liver, kidney, spleen, and femur bone marrow. Lesions were not found in the adrenals. Histopathologically, the neoplastic cells had a large amount of melanin pigment and showed severe anisokaryosis and prominent nucleoli. Mitotic activity was infrequent but varied considerably where it was observed.
Kajigaya
Hiroshi
H
Division of Conservation Biology, Department of Applied Science, Nippon Veterinary and Lifescience University, Kyonan-cho 1-7-1, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan. kjgy@jcom.home.ne.jp
Konagaya
Katsutoshi
K
Ejima
Hiroyasu
H
Usuda
Ziniti
Z
Kodama
Seikan
S
Thone
Jos
J
D000818:Animals; D001502:Beak / Q000473:pathology*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D019046:Bone Marrow Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D010856:Columbidae; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary