title: Long-term treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a green-winged macaw (Ara chloroptera).
abstract: A 32-year-old green-winged macaw (Ara chloroptera) was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia based on progressive lymphocytosis and the presence of a monomorphic population of well-differentiated lymphocytes in the bone marrow of a clinically normal bird. Chemotherapy was initiated because of rapidly increasing peripheral lymphocyte counts. In addition to oral prednisone (1 mg/kg once daily), oral chlorambucil (1 mg/kg twice weekly) was initiated but was discontinued after 6 weeks because of thrombocytopenia. The leukocyte count was stabilized for 29 weeks with the concurrent use of oral cyclophosphamide (5 mg/kg 4 d/wk) and daily prednisone, and the bird exhibited a good quality of life. The bird died shortly after the chemotherapy was inadvertently discontinued. The neoplastic cells from this macaw stained positive for CD-3 antibody and negative for Bla.36, suggesting the leukemia was of T-cell origin. This is the first report of long-term treatment of a macaw with cyclophosphamide and documents thrombocytopenia in a macaw secondary to chlorambucil treatment.
authors.affiliation: Lion Country Safari, 2003 Lion Country Safari Rd, Loxahatchee, FL 33470, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: David Sanchez-Migallon
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Glenna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mauldin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martinez-Jimenez
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiupel
authors.forename: Roberto F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Aguilar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010311:Parrots
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents