J. R. Bolton

Basophilic Enterocolitis in a Horse

phoid tumors are relatively common neoplasms in most domestic animals.’ Those classified as lymphosarcoma are much more frequent than lymphocytic leukemias. This is the first reported case of lymphocytic leukemia in the ferret. A one-year-old male ferret was housed in an outdoor Wire mesh enclosure with a female ferret. The ferrets had been in good health until the male was found dead unexpectedly one morning. On gross examination, the mesenteric lymph nodes, anterior thoracic lymph nodes, and spleen were enlarged. The liver was swollen and pale. Histological examination revealed a marked leukemic infiltration in all organs examined. The tumor cells were pleomorphic round cells with round or indented nuclei containing clumped chromatin and one or more prominent nucleoli. Cytoplasm was scant, and mitotic figures were rare. The architecture of the lymph nodes was effaced and the leukemic cells had invaded the capsule and perinodal fat. The hepatic sinusoids were flooded with tumor cells resulting in extensive atrophy of the hepatic cords. (figs. 1,2) A diagnosis of a welldifferentiated lymphocytic leukemia was made. Serum from this ferret was not available, however, the female ferret housed in the same cage was bled and found to be FeLV negative. References