Western Conference of Veterinary Diagnostic Pathologists
October 3-4, 2013 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Respiratory Pathology
Case Introductions
Case # 1
13-965-1
Bethany Balmer
WADDL
A 27-year-old, female African crowned crane was initially treated with enrofloxacin for bite wounds (possible feral
cat attack). Two weeks later, the bird developed neurologic deficiencies in both legs and was treated with
dexamethasone. The bird was improving and standing on its own, but was found dead approximately 3 weeks later.
Case # 2
09-12102B
Juan Muñoz-Gutierrez
WADDL
A male, mountain quail, which belonged to a game bird farm, was noticed to have respiratory problems and then
died. Infection with avian influenza virus and exotic New Castle virus were suspected and ruled-out by PCR. Not
lesions were noticed during necropsy.
Case # 3
12-6371-1
Kathleen Potter
WADDL
A 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt had been treated successfully for ‘bleeding’ in the past. He was treated the
previous night and found dead in his stall in the morning.
Case # 4
11-4000-1
Chelsea Himsworth
AHC
One 2-week-old Savannah kitten was presented for post-mortem examination. The kitten died suddenly
with no antecedent clinical illness. This kitten was the only surviving member of a litter of three kittens,
the other two of which were stillborn. The kitten’s behavior, appetite, weight-gain were reported to be
normal prior to death.
At necropsy, the 300 g male kitten was in good body condition with adequate fat stores and muscling.
The lungs were diffusely mottled pink-to-red and failed to collapse. There were no other significant
findings.
Case # 5
08-15413-12
Danielle Nelson
WADDL
There have been two recent deaths and two deaths about one month ago, from a herd of 45 total bison (20 are cowcalf pairs) on a small ranch in Northeastern Washington state. Of the four deaths (calves and adults), two animals
displayed no premonitory signs and two had mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharge prior to death. At necropsy,
the bison had ulcerative and erosive stomatitis, anterior uveitis, mucopurulent and hemorrhagic rhinitis, erosive
rumenitis and omasitis, and hemorrhagic urinary cytstitis.
Case # 6
12-14283-2
Dale Miskimins
SDSU
A mink ranch has sick mink with scabs around mouth and nose. The paws on some mink are swollen.
Case # 7
10-027890-4
Maria Spinato
Guelph
Two 8-year-old mixed breed ewes were submitted for post mortem examination. Reported clinical signs included
pneumonia and pyrexia of 103-105 F. The animals had been treated with Nuflor and Liquamycin.
Case # 8
10-11395 D
Gabrielle Pastenkos
WADDL
Fresh and formalin-fixed field necropsy specimens from a 2-month-old Holstein calf that succumbed to apparent
clinical pneumonia were received by the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab.
Case # 9
13-4010 11-5
Kathleen Potter
WADDL
In 2009-2010, an outbreak of pneumonia occurred in the Umtanum herd of bighorn sheep in the Yakima River
canyon. A culling operation to remove sick sheep reduced the herd by 100 animals, but after a single year of poor
lamb recruitment the Umtanum herd has recovered most of its numbers. Two adjacent herds, the Tieton and
Cleman herds had remained healthy in 2010. In the spring of 2013, increasing numbers of dead sheep were
identified in the Tieton herd. In order to protect the Cleman herd, prophylactic euthanasia was performed on Tieton
sheep in closest proximity to the Cleman herd. Submitted to WADDL were 10 plucks and heads from euthanized
sheep and the entire carcass of a ewe found dead the same day. The slide submitted is from the dead ewe.
Case # 10
12-32270
Bruce Wobeser
WCVM
An adult female bison from a feedlot of approximately 1900 animals. At the time of submission 25 animals were
sick and 68 had already died. Sick animals are generally yearling animals that show signs of illness approximately
60-90 days after arrival at the feedlot.
Necropsy: The animal was in poor body condition with minimal stores of subcutaneous and omental fat. The left
lung was firmly adherent to the diaphragm and ribcage in numerous places by fibrous tissue. Several small
abscesses were present. Approximately 2/3 of the left lung was replaced by a mass of necrotic lung tissue that
maintained its architecture and was surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule (sequestrum). The right lung was
unremarkable.
Case # 11
D10-043449
Marie Gramer
UMN
A respiratory disease problem in finisher pigs (market weight) recurred on the same farm over a period of 3 years.
One of the common gross lesions was transmural and/or intraluminal tracheal hemorrhages.
Case # 12
D08-41652
Susan Detmer
WCVM
The body of a 4-month-old, Thoroughbred colt was submitted for post-mortem examination. The animal had a
recurring fever for 9 days and was experiencing respiratory distress when it died on the way to the large animal
clinic. Three days before the fever started the colt had an injury to the left eye and 4 days before it died it had a
suspected allergic reaction with pruritus on the neck. Three other foals from this farm have died and been submitted
for necropsy in the last 6 months.
Case # 13
11-524-1
Jen Davies
UCVM
An 8 year old, spayed female, Yorkshire Terrier was submitted with a history of a chronic regenerative anemia,
thrombocytopenia, and proteinuria of undetermined cause. She was currently being treated with
immunosuppressive levels of prednisone. In the pleural cavity there was approximately 30 ml of serosanguinous
fluid. Situated in the anterior portion of the mediastinum and enveloping the pericardial sac, there was a firm, tan,
poorly defined mass which measured 10 cm in length. The mass extended caudally toward the diaphragm and the
caudal left lung lobe was loosely adhered to the mass. Diffusely, the pleura were markedly thickened by a tan,
granular material that was reminiscent of the mediastinal mass. Disseminated within the pulmonary parenchyma,
there were innumerable, miliary, tan foci.
Case # 14
12GP0202
Adrienne Schucker
UMN
A one-month-old, intact male, white Hartley guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) purchased and shipped from a source
colony was placed in quarantine for an acclimation period of 7 days. After being placed on study day 9, he lost
body condition and exhibited progressive respiratory distress over days 10 and 11, then died on day 12. The guinea
pig was in good nutritional condition with mild postmortem autolysis. The thoracic cavity contained approximately
0.5 ml of watery, red, clear fluid. The left and right cranial lung lobes were diffusely dark red, heavy and wet (sank
in formalin). The right middle and right accessory lung lobes were diffusely dark red and firm. The left and right
caudal lung lobes contained multifocal to coalescing, dark red, firm, irregular, smooth, flat foci.
Case # 15
D07-044371
Predrag Novakovic
WCVM
Fresh and fixed tissues from 3 nursery pigs were submitted with reported clinical signs of diarrhea, septicemia and
pneumonia.
Case # 16
D11-11632
Lana Gyan
WCVM
A 7-year-old, castrated male, domestic short hair cat presented to the emergency service with coughing and fast
breathing. The cat had been treated for 4 days with Clavamox, followed by Lincoseptin. Radiography revealed
mottled lungs. There was severe, diffuse, acute pulmonary congestion and edema, and the trachea was filled with
frothy, blood tinged edema fluid. Randomly scattered over the pleural surface of all lobes, there are pale, tan foci
that measured 1-2mm in diameter, which were not evident on cross section. Within the liver there is moderate,
diffuse, pale tan discoloration with moderate numbers of scattered, small, pale yellow foci, 1mm in diameter.
Case # 17
X5546-09-1
Heather Fenton
UPEI
This adult, male, striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) was brought to the Atlantic Veterinary College Veterinary
Teaching Hospital by a good samaritan who found it alive on the side of the road. It was recumbent and had
respiratory difficulties. The skunk was in very good body condition. There were multiple fractures of the
pelvis. Marked hemorrhage was present in the subcutis and muscle fascia of the right thigh area, next to the
fracture. Hemorrhage extended into the retroperitoneal space of the right kidney. Multiple pinpoint white raised
foci were present on the pleura. The stomach was empty of contents except for a small ball of grey hair and a
couple of ascarid nematodes.
Case # 18
D13-019994
Christine Watson
UMN
Bruce Wobeser
WCVM
Lung submitted from a 2-year-old cow.
Case # 19
D13-01442
An approximately 4 month old large breed dog, found three days ago and had been with a foster family for two
days. PE: Emaciated, dull, lethargic, weak, did not want to stand. Constant rhythmic twitch of abdominal muscles
and sometimes one leg, jaw, eyelid or tongue. HR 100. Deep cough, increased lung sounds, no ocular or nasal
discharge. Gross lesions were confined to the lungs. At the bifurcation of the trachea and extending a short way
down the main stem bronchi were numerous 3 to 10 mm diameter raised well demarcated pale submucosal masses.
Case # 20
N96-1049
Santhi Sridharan
WCVM
Two 10-day-old calves that died were submitted for post-mortem examination from a herd with a history of ocular
disease in cows and heifers. Animals have blue grey tearing eyes and become blind. There were 5 deaths out of 100
cows in herd. Gross findings: The left cranial lung lobe and cranial portion of caudal lobe are dark red, slightly
firmer and on section, a small amount of purulent material and fibrin exudes from airways. There are multiple
erosions to ulcerations in the hard palate, pharynx, esophagus, rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. The liver
is approximately twice normal size, with miliary foci of necrosis throughout the parenchyma.
Case # 21
130122-22-A
Katherine Gailbreath
WestVet
A6-year-old, female Magellanic penguin housed at a small local zoo had been losing weight for a long period of
time. She had increased respiratory rate and effort. She was brought to a referral clinic for a CT when she died
under anesthesia. The CT revealed a soft tissue density in the area of the right abdominal air sac. Gross exam
revealed granulomas in multiple air sacs and in the lungs with the right abdominal air sac being completely filled
with caseous material.
Case # 22
D11-27450
Yanyun Huang
PDS
Tissue from a clinically healthy nursery pig (approximately 6-weeks-old).
Case # 23
S34772-4
Madhu Ravi
Alberta
A client recently purchased 3000 lambs. Upon arrival, the animals were given 8-way clostridial vaccine and oral
Valbazen dewormer. Lambs died acutely with 2-3 lambs per day over a couple of weeks. There were no significant
clinical signs other than a few lambs that were recumbent for a short period of time before death. Grossly, the liver
was friable and there were peritoneal and pericardial effusions.
Case # 24
N16-13-2
Oscar Illanes
Ross
A two-year-old, mixed breed, female dog presented in pain and inability to rise. The pain appeared to be somehow
confined to the thoracolumbar area. Blood work revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia. At
necropsy a moderate amount of sanguineous fluid was present around the nares (nasal discharge). A moderate
amount of blood was present in the peritoneal and pleural cavities (hemoperitoneum, hemothorax). The lungs were
diffusely red, slightly enlarged and rubbery and did not collapse when opening the thorax. A few small (up to 5
mm) foci of dark-red discoloration (hemorrhage) were scattered throughout the visceral pleura. In addition two
small (less than 3 mm), slightly raised star-shaped areas of greyish discoloration (scarring) were present on the
pleural surface of the right lung. Pieces of the lung sunk when placed in the formalin jar.
Case # 25
N64-12-2
Carmen Fuentealba
Ross
Weaner pig found dead. Other pigs of similar age exhibited panting and respiratory distress. Most
significant post-mortem findings were confined to the lungs. Lungs were diffusely enlarged, slightly firm,
moist, heavy and did not collapse when opening the pleural cavity. Pieces of the pulmonary parenchyma
sunk when placed in the formalin jar.
Case # 26
7-2053-17
S.Raverty/S.Scott
AHC/WCVM
Adult female harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) was found dead, stranded in the Gulf islands, of the coast of
British Columbia. This animal was in moderate body condition with no other significant findings.
Case # 27
13-5123-1
Dale Miskimins
SDSU
Two Holstein heifers were found dead the day after calving. Both had pneumonia and marked interlobular edema.
Case # 28
D13-01951
Hélène Philibert
WCVM
This 10-year-old, intact male, terrier cross dog has a short history of increased respiratory rate and painful
abdomen. He had a mildly enlarged heart and pulmonary congestion on x-rays. He died acutely at home after
jumping on the couch.
Case # 29
D13-3485
M.Kerr/G.McGregor
PDS/WCVM
An 8-week-old Yorkshire Terrier presented with respiratory distress. An emphysematous right middle lung lobe
was noted on radiographs and surgery. The other lung lobes were grossly normal. Biopsy submitted.
Case # 30
12-172-1
Jan Bystrom
UCVM
Female spayed, Shih Tzu x Terrier dog, 9-years-old, presented with persistent coughing, gagging and spitting up
bile. Tracheal sounds were increased but lung/heart sounds were normal. Radiographs suggested an upper
respiratory infection with a congested cranial lobe. Antibiotic treatment was unsuccessful and the dog represented
with lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, and intractable coughing. Diagnostic evaluation showed granulocytosis with
eosinophilia and a distinct nodular pattern visible radiographically in diaphragmatic lobes suggestive of neoplasia.
Gross necropsy showed pale, grey and soft nodules disseminated through all lobes, more severe in diaphragmatic
lobes.
Case # 31
N79-426
Steve Mills
WCVM
A 4-year-old, male, Appaloosa was symptomatically treated for respiratory symptoms twice last year. He has
shown no signs of illness for some time and was “O.K.” at 10 pm. He was found dead the next morning.
Case # 32
N74-4942
Steve Mills
WCVM
A 5½-year-old, female, quarter horse was seen by the ambulatory service earlier this year and diagnosed with
pulmonary emphysema. On advice from the vet, the owner removed the horse from the barn and put it out on
pasture and fed wet feed. There was no improvement and the horse was euthanized.
Case # 33
D07-034343
Susan Detmer
WCVM
A 1-year-old, neutered male, domestic long hair cat presented with a 5 day history of vomiting. Abdominal
radiographs revealed gas-filled bowel loops with bunching of small intestines in the mid-abdominal area.
Suspecting a linear foreign body, exploratory laparotomy was started but during anesthetic induction, the cat
stopped breathing and became cyanotic. Despite resuscitation attempts, the cat died and its body was submitted for
necropsy evaluation.
Case # 34
D06-038683
Susan Detmer
WCVM
A 5-year-old, male neutered, cat presented for a cough and received an injection of penicillin and the
owner treated with “leftover” amoxicillin by mouth. Two weeks later, the cat began open-mouth
breathing in the night and the owner awoke to find him dead the next morning.
Case # 35
Rat 1
Jamie Rothenburger
WCVM
Tissues from a wild, female, Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) trapped from in the Downtown Eastside of
Vancouver, Canada. Multifocal, widespread, white, 1 X 1 mm foci were observed throughout all lung lobes.
Case # 36
130504-6-1
Katherine Gailbreath
WestVet
An adult male California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) was recovered from the outer coast of Washington
state. The animal was in poor body condition. The abdomen was markedly distended, taut and contained
approximately 10 L of white turbid fluid with a small amount of yellow-tan flocculent material. Throughout the
caudal abdomen, protruding from the serosal surfaces of the urinary bladder, colon, ureters and rectum, as well as
enlarging an partially obliterating numerous regional lymph nodes, there were multifocal to coalescing tan-red to
yellow, firm, to occasionally friable and necrotic nodules. A few nodules were evident immediately below the
capsular surface of the left medial liver lobe. A small amount of cloudy, yellow-white urine was in the urinary
bladder.
Case # 37
Rat 2
Jamie Rothenburger
WCVM
Tissues from a wild, mature, female, Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) trapped from in the Downtown Eastside of
Vancouver, Canada. No gross abnormalities were noted.
Case # 38
13-14208
Pritpal Mahli
PDS
A 10-year-old, female, domestic shorthair cat presented for limping on the right hind limb. The digits (# 2 and 3) of
the right hind limb were swollen. The 2nd digit of the right forelimb was also swollen, ulcerated and hemorrhagic.
Near the caudo-dorsal border of the left caudal lobe there was a pale, white mass that was approximately
2.5x1.5x1.5 cm in size with a necrotic center.
Case # 39
13-3263
Lindsay Fry
WADDL
A 24-year-old, Warmblood gelding was submitted for necropsy. The horse had a three-week history of unilateral,
right sided epistaxis, and a large mass was discovered within the right guttural pouch on CT scan. At necropsy, the
right guttural pouch was filled by a 19.0 x 16.5 x 6.5 cm firm, multilobular, mass that infiltrated the peripharyngeal
and perilaryngeal tissues. Bilaterally, the lateral retropharyngeal and cervical lymph nodes were enlarged to
approximately 2-3 times normal size and mottled tan to dark red.
Case # 40
12-0306-15-2
Maria Spinato
Guelph
A 2-year-old ewe developed dyspnea and a clear nasal discharge that progressed to severe respiratory distress. The
animal was euthanatized and submitted to the Animal Health Laboratory for postmortem examination. Over the
past 5 years, 1-2 sheep per year have developed similar clinical signs. Affected animals eventually become
anorexic and die within 2 months. Only sheep older than 5 years of age were initially affected; recently, sheep as
young as 1-2 years of age have also developed this condition.
Case # 41
D00-36244
Thushari Gunawardana
WCVM
A Hyline W36 strain 19 weeks old layer flock (10,486 birds) with increased mortality (524 dead within 5 days).
The clinical history is that the birds have difficulty breathing (raspy breathing with gurgling sounds). Necropsy
revealed hemorrhage in trachea of all birds submitted ranging from focal hemorrhages to clotted blood. In some
birds there was a diphtheritic membrane on the laryngeal surface.
Affiliation abbreviations:
AHC
Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, BC
Alberta
Government of Alberta
Guelph
Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
PDS
Prairie Diagnostic Services, Inc., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Ross
Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Kitts
SDSU
Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
UCVM
University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Calgary, AB
UMN
University of Minnesota, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, St. Paul, MN
WADDL
Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
WCVM
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
WestVet
WestVet Diagnostic Laboratory, Garden City, Idaho