Ileal leiomyoma in a captive zebra (Equus burchelli)

Authors: RAHŞAN YILMAZ, AHMET AKKOÇ, M. ÖZGÜR ÖZYİĞİT

Abstract: In the present study, an ileal leiomyoma encountered in a captive zebra (Equus burchelli) was reported. A 29-year-old, female zebra was found dead in the Bursa zoo. According to the referring veterinarian the most prominent clinical signs were intermittent colic (responsive to analgesics) and constipation. At post mortem examination, abdomen was severely distended. A firm, multilobular, well vascularized and encapsulated tumoural mass, 12 cm in diameter, embedded into the proximal part of the ileum wall, and protruded from the serosal surface was found. The cut section of the mass had whorled appearance, pale yellow to white in colour, and had no sign of coagulation necroses and haemorrhages. In the microscopical examination, it was observed that tumoural mass consisted of interlacing bundles of well-differentiated, haphazardly arranged, and smooth muscle cells. Mitotic figures were not common. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were stained strongly with alpha smooth muscle actin and the mass was diagnosed as leiomyoma.

Keywords: Leiomyoma, ileum, zebra (Equus burchelli), immunohistochemistry

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