1. Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic T-Lymphocytic Leukemia in a Green Tree Monitor (Varanus prasinus)
- Author
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Timothy A. Georoff, Rose E. Raskin, Denise McAloose, Nicole I. Stacy, Gerald S. Post, and Alisa N. Newton
- Subjects
Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,biology ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Lymphocytosis ,business.industry ,Chronic lymphocytic leukemia ,Complete blood count ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Lethargy ,Leukemia ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,medicine ,Varanus prasinus ,Bone marrow ,Leukocytosis ,medicine.symptom ,business - Abstract
A 13-year-old male green tree monitor (Varanus prasinus) presented with lethargy and chronic weight loss. Complete blood count (CBC) revealed marked leukocytosis (total leukocyte count = 278.1 × 103/μl) and peripheral blood films were characterized by marked lymphocytosis comprised of small, well-differentiated lymphocytes. Bone marrow aspiration revealed increased cellularity with a predominance of well-differentiated lymphocytes. Using immunocytochemistry, neoplastic lymphocytes in peripheral blood films were positive for CD3 epsilon and negative for CD79a and BLA.36, consistent with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Distal tail necrosis was noted 17 days post-presentation and treated with partial caudectomy. Treatment was initiated for CLL with 0.8 mg/kg prednisone q 48 h 22 days post-presentation. CBC on days 94 to 151 post-presentation showed marked reduction in leukocytosis (counts remaining below 40.0 × 103/μL). The animal displayed improvement in activity, appetite, and gained we...
- Published
- 2009