Polyostotic osteosarcoma associated with avian leukosis virus infection in a captive bare-faced curassow (Crax fasciolata)

• Published in: BMC veterinary research Vol. 17; no. 1; p. 84
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Jefferson Bruno Soares, de Oliveira, Ayisa Rodrigues, Dos Santos, Daniel Oliveira, de Carvalho, Thaynara Parente, Moreira, Larissa Giannini Alves, Tinoco, Herlandes Penha, Coelho, Carlyle Mendes, Coelho, Hannah Luiza Gonsalves, de Paiva Zucherato, Maria Clara, Marín-Gómez, Sandra Yuliet, Costa, Camila Siqueira, Martins, Nelson R S, Santos, Renato Lima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 18-02-2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: ALV; Avian leukosis; Birds; Bone cancer; Bone marrow; Bone tumor; Bone tumors; Care and treatment; Case Report; Cracidae; Crax fasciolata; Cytoplasm; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Femur; Genetic testing; Immunohistochemistry; Infections; Leukosis; Mesenchyme; Metastases; Metastasis; Neoplasia; Osteoid; Osteosarcoma; Pathogens; Pleomorphism; Poultry; Retrovirus; Skeleton; Solid tumors; Spleen; Tibiotarsus; Tumors; Vimentin; Viruses; Wildlife; Brazil; United Kingdom > UK; Costa Rica; Retrovirus; ALV; Bone tumor; Wildlife; Cracidae
• ISSN: 1746-6148; 1746-6148
• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02794-0

Osteosarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal bone tumor. Although it is a common tumor in the appendicular skeleton of dogs and cats, it is rarely reported in birds. Retroviruses are usually associated with solid tumor development in different avian species.
This report aims to describe a case of osteosarcoma associated with the avian leukosis virus in a captive bare-faced curassow (Crax fasciolata). A captive adult female bare-faced curassow presented with lameness, hyporexia, and a non-ulcerative and firm tumor in the right femur. The bird was euthanized due to the poor prognosis. Histopathology revealed an infiltrative mesenchymal neoplasm consisting of spindle cells with moderate cell pleomorphism, organized in bundles and interspersed by marked deposition of the osteoid matrix, which was compatible with osteosarcoma affecting both femur and tibiotarsus, with renal metastasis. Immunohistochemistry of the primary and metastatic tumor demonstrated vimentin expression by neoplastic cells. Samples of the neoplasm, bone marrow, and spleen were processed for PCR, which enabled the demonstration of proviral avian leukosis virus (ALV) DNA.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an osteosarcoma in a bare-faced curassow with an unusual polyostotic manifestation and associated with ALV infection.