Group necropsy report for pathology I (VPA 5341) at RUSVM.

1. Necropsy Case Number: N059:06-17-2011
Date of necropsy: 6-17-2011
Time of necropsy: 11:00 am
Group: 9 Robert Bovino, Heather Byrnes, Ninian Cameron-Blake, Omega Cantrell, Valerie Carril
Katherine Cerulli, Will Childress, Brendan Cloonan, Kirstin Cologgi, Anaelys Concepion, Shane Cowan
Animal Euthanized: 6-14-2011
Name of attending pathologist: Dr. Fernanda Castillo
Name of Animal: Foo Foo
Client Number: 11599
Gross Description:
Our specimen is a 3.2 kg intact male domestic short hair feline named Foo Foo. His estimated
age is twelve months. He was brought to the clinic to be neutered, but tested positive for feline
immunodeficiency virus ( FIV) and was euthanized. Body condition score is 2/5. There are ten red to
black healing facial lesions, 1-3mm in diameter, located around the eyes, muzzle, chin, ears and top of
head. In the right eye there is a unilateral, centrally located white spot, 1.5mm in diameter. There is
bilateral, dark brown to black waxy material in the ear canals. On the left forelimb, within the shaved
region, 4 x 7cm, there is a local area of redness and swelling, 2 x 5cm, centrally located within the area
of redness there is one puncture wound, 1x3mm.
In the jejunum there are five white parasites of the following dimensions: 54mm x 3-5mm x
1mm, 65mm x 3-5mm x 1mm, 125mm x 3-5mm x 1mm, 130mm x 3-5mm x 1mm, and 180mm x 3-5mm
x 1mm. There are several black pinpoint sized particles located on the neck and back. There is a 2 x 1cm
firm area present at the apical portion of the diaphragmatic surface of the right caudal lung lobe. The
right testicle displays diffuse hemorrhage of the vaginal tunic. Bone marrow of the diaphysis of the left
femur is red.
Gross Findings:
Lungs: One focal firm area on right caudal lung lobe, diffuse hypostatic congestion of right lung lobes
Right Eye: Acute, focal, healed corneal ulceration

2. Integument: Acute, multifocal, mild skin abrasions and one focal puncture wound
Jejunum: Diplidyum caninum (presumptive)
Ears: Chronic, bilateral otitis externa
Right Testicle: diffuse hemorrhage of tunica vaginalis
Long bone of femur: red bone marrow
Gross Diagnosis:
Euthanasia
Open
FIV Positive
Comments:
The cat was humanely euthanized because it tested positive for FIV. This virus is common in free
roaming cats, such as this one, and is usually transmitted through bites of infected animals. This is the
most probable cause for how Foo Foo acquired the disease. However, the gross findings in this case
showed few definitive diagnoses for secondary infections typically associated with FIV infections. It can
therefore be presumed that the disease had not yet progressed to a chronic state of infection.
The firm area present on the apical portion of the right caudal lung lobe could be related to a
prior incidence of pneumonia. Typically the pneumonia is caused from a secondary bacterial, viral or
fungal infection. Cats with FIV are often imunosuppressed leaving them vulnerable to infections such as
these. Although bacterial infections play an important role in the progression of FIV in terms of lung
damage, it has been reported that FIV alone can lead to pulmonary changes.
The healed corneal lesion and history in this case is suggestive of trauma, a foreign body or of a
viral infection. Viral differentials include FIV and feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1, feline rhinotracheitis).

3. While this animal tested positive for FIV, leading to the euthanasia, we do not believe FIV was the
primary cause. Given the other facial lesions observed, cat fights would be the most likely cause of the
healed corneal ulcer. Fighting is very common in the feral cat population especially when they are not
surgically altered, this is also a frequent form of horizontal transmission of FIV.
The helminth parasites are most likely Diplidium caninum because of the site of infection as well
as the presence of what is believed to be flea dirt in the coat. Fleas, or Ctenocephalides felis /canis are
the intermediate host for this parasite. Two potential sources of the brown waxy exudate in the ears
are either dirt from the ground or possibly Otodectes cynotis also known as ear mites. FIV is known to
cause states of immunosuppression leaving animals more vulnerable to parasitic, bacterial, and fungal
infections. Therefore, the virus may have contributed to the presence of the helminthes and fleas in this
animal.
The presence of red bone marrow in mature animals is unusual, and has been linked to cellular
hyperplasia induced by FIV infections. However, because the body was stored for several days prior to
necropsy, it is inappropriate in this case to make any correlations between the FIV infection and the
condition of the bone marrow. The diffuse hemorrhage in the vaginal tunic of the right testicle is
suggestive of blunt force trauma. Although a rare finding, testicular inflammation and vasculitis are
clinically seen in cats testing positive for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Infection with FIV suppresses
cell-mediated immunity leaving the animal vulnerable to secondary infections such as FIP. However,
due to the absence of gross lesions indicative of FIP the most probable cause of hemorrhage in the right
testicle is due to trauma.