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This is the final report on Jet. I talked today with one of the doctors to get clarification. So in case you don't feel like reading this long report, I will summarize in one paragraph both the report and today's discussion.
The type of cancer that was present in her throat and sinuses was squamous cell, a type not normally seen in chickens and especially in this location. There was inflammation present in the crop and esophagus, along with mixed bacteria of a chronic nature (existing a long time - as opposed to acute, which is coming on suddenly). This was also seen in some of the organs (noted in the report) indicating that the bacteria could have started to go systemic. The inflammation/bacteria could have been caused by both the condition of having cancer and by malnutrition from not eating enough. This type of cancer would have metastasized elsewhere in her body. They saw no evidence of parasite eggs (worms) or trich, however they did not rule out the possibility that she did have trich but it was brought under control and therefore they saw no evidence of it. They indicated to keep an eye on the others in my flock just in case. In conclusion, they felt that the cancer was the primary indicator for her problems. Vet said they get a lot of backyard chickens in and they are quite sturdy animals and are able to withstand a lot but when a disease finally catches up with their ability to hold it off, they go down pretty quickly - which is descriptive of Jet.
On a side note - completely unrelated - (I think) - she was the only girl who ever laid the "fart" eggs. Every now and then I'd get one from her. I still miss her supervising everything I did - when I cleaned the coop, she came up the ladder to watch. She was first at the gate. She had an "outpost" - top of a pen, from which she could watch for me. Thanks Jet, for all our good times.
FINAL REPORT
ID ID Type Taxonomy Gender Age
S p e c i m e n D e t a i l s
Jet Name Chicken Female 3.00 Years
Three year old hen with 2 month history of difficulty eating and yellow masses on esophagus
1. Oral and nasal cavity, squamous cell carcinoma with focally extensive mucosal ulceration, serocellular crust and
superficial bacteria
2. Esophagus/crop: Mucosal epithelial hyperplasia, diffuse, severe with focal epithelial erosion / ulceration and
submucosal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates
3. Kidney: Nephritis, tubulointerstitial, multifocal, with tubular epithelial necrosis, mineralization and proteinosis, chronic.
4. Liver, hepatitis, moderate, multifocal, chronic.
5. Mesentery: Coelomitis, lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic, focally extensive, mild with yolk proteins.
6. Lung: Pneumoconiosis and aspiration of foreign material [incidental finding].
Other laboratory results:
- Negative avian influenza qRT-PCR, pharyngeal swab
- No bacterial growth in liver
- Mixed bacterial flora isolated from cecum (not significant)
- Negative Salmonella PCR, liver and cecum
- No parasite eggs detected in feces
L a b o r a t o r y F i n d i n g s / D i a g n o s i s
5-11-12: Necropsy revealed severe ulcerative stomatitis and variable thickening of the mucosa of the esophagus and crop .
Abnormalities in liver and kidneys may or may not be related to the oral lesions. At this stage no specific diagnosis can be
made; I will rely on histology and other ancillary tests to further characterized my findings. New results will be forwarded as they
become available.
5-28-12: Histology of the affected palate and nasal area revealed a carcinoma; ulceration of the mucosa of the palate / choana
accompanied by serocellular crusting and superficial bacteria are secondary to the neoplasm. Although carcinomas in chickens
are commonly seen, neoplasia in this anatomic location was unusual for backyard chickens in our experience. Lesions in the
esophagus and crop consist of marked and diffuse hyperplasia of the mucosa epithelium with no evidence of neoplastic cells. No
etiologic agents were identified in sections examined and the cause of these lesions was not determined. Whilst the clinical
history mentions Trichomonas sp. infection, there was no histologic evidence of protozoa in the sections examined. Lesions
noted in the liver and kidney are chronic changes; no etiologic agents were identified in sections. Lung and coelomic lesions are
incidental findings.
C a s e S u m m a r y
Report 4.5-CAHFS Standard Report - 6/7/2012 Page 1 of 3CAHFS Final Version 1 Accession # S1203972 June 09, 2012
I sincerely apologize for the delay in completion of this report.
All testing has now been completed.
Chicken came from Blacksmiths corner in LA-exposed to wild pigeons. I bought at 6 months old at which time seemed to
drink excessively. Last two months had increasing symptoms: interest in food -can't eat, difficult swallowing, drooling, no
mucous no respiratory sounds, no smell, on crop massage, chicken burps, shaking head violently, inspection of mouth
shows yellow masses extending into esophagus. Treated with wazine, valbezen, metronidazole and ronidazole.
Disease suspected: Trichamonas
Duration of illness: Unknown
C l i n i c a l H i s t o r y
G r o s s O b s e r v a t i o n s
Necropsy of a black sex-link hen began at 3:05 pm on May 10, 2012.
The hen was received alive, was depressed and reluctant to move. The bird was humanely euthanatized and bled prior to
necropsy.
In the oral cavity, there was focally extensive deep ulceration of the mucosa of the right half of the oral cavity bordering the
choana. This focus of ulceration was covered by thick yellow plaque-like material. Segmentally, the mucosa of the
esophagus was mildly thickened and pale, and there was a solitary, raised, soft translucent nodule at the level of the
glottis. The crop was distended with greenish semisolid ingesta; the mucosa had numerous, slightly elevated, multifocal,
discrete to coalescent white plaques with a finely coarse surface. The liver was moderately swollen, tan/yellow and firm.
Both kidneys were diffusely white. The ovary was active with numerous developing ova; the mucosa of the uterus /vagina
was diffusely thickened, dark-red, with granular surface and contained a non-calcified egg shell and yolk material.
No other significant abnormalities were observed.
B a c t e r i o l o g y
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
BACTERIAL AEROBIC CULTURE
Results
Jet S1203972-01.0 Liver Tissue
002
No growth after 48 hours
Jet S1203972-01.0 Cecal Tissue
004
Mixed flora Lg#
Jet S1203972-01.0 Oral Cavity Swab
005
Mixed flora Lg#
Jet S1203972-01.0 Crop Tissue
006
Mixed flora Mod#
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
FUNGAL CULTURE AND ID
Results
Jet S1203972-01.0 Crop Tissue
006
No fungi detected after 2 weeks
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
Salmonella PCR and Confirmation Culture
Results
Jet S1203972-01.0 Liver Tissue
002
No salmonella detected
Jet S1203972-01.0 Cecal Tissue
004
No salmonella detected
B i o t e c h n o l o g y
Report 4.5-CAHFS Standard Report - 6/7/2012 Page 2 of 3
Avian Influenza matrix gene qRT-PCR
Results
Jet Pharyngeal Swab -
VTM
AI - PHS Negative
H i s t o l o g y
Sections of brain, beak/nasal cavity, trachea, esophagus, crop, heart, lung, proventriculus, ventriculus, small and large
intestine, spleen, liver, kidneys, skeletal muscles, reproductive tract, sciatic nerves and pancreas are examined.
Beak/nasal cavity: In one half of the nasal cavity, extending from the ulcerated mucosa of the palate to the maxillary
sinuses, is a poorly demarcated, unencapsulated, infiltrative, highly cellular epithelial neoplasm. The neoplasm is
comprised of nests and cords of closely packed cells separated by wide trabeculae of connective tissue stroma. Individual
cells are round to oval with distinct cytoplasmic margins, abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, eccentric nucleus with finely
stippled chromatin, and a single magenta nucleolus. There is moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis; mitotic figures
are rare. At the centers of some of the nests, there are foci of individual cell necrosis [acantholysis], cellular debris and
mild heterophilic infiltrates. Within the mass there are fragments of necrotic bone, foci of necrosis, and scattered infiltrates
of moderate numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells and fewer heterophils. Similar infiltrates are present in subepithelial
connective tissue of the maxillary sinus. The ulcerated margin of the palate is lined by cellular debris, degenerate
heterophils, mucus and large aggregates of coccobacilli. Epithelium bordering the ulcerated margin is hyperplastic. There
are moderate multifocal lymphocytic infiltrates throughout the mucosa of the turbinates while their lumina contain
abundant mucus, cellular debris and plant material.
Esophagus/crop: The mucosal epithelium is markedly thickened with formation of broad rete pegs that expand the
subjacent submucosal stroma; the stroma is infiltrated by moderate to large numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells .
There is intracellular and intercellular edema of superficial layers of the epithelium often accompanied by mild to moderate
infiltrates of lymphocytes and heterophils. Multifocally there is epithelial erosion and ulceration with desquamated cells ,
and variable numbers of mixed, short, plump rods and filamentous bacteria lining the eroded / ulcerated margins.
PAS: No fungal organisms observed.
Kidney: Multifocally, tubules are dilated, either reamed of epithelium [segmentally or globally], or lined by flattened or
prominent epithelium, and contain variable amounts of heterophilic granular and cellular debris and /or mineral. Adjacent
interstitium is often infiltrated by small numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells, and rare heterophils. Few tubules
contain lightly eosinophilic proteinaceous material.
Liver: There are mild to moderate infiltrates of lymphocytes and lymphoblasts mainly around blood vessels, and also
randomly scattered throughout the parenchyma. Infiltrates occasionally form nodular aggregates / follicles around large
blood vessels.
Lung: Throughout the parenchyma, aggregates of macrophages containing variable amounts of granular black pigment and
pale yellow crystalline material are present in mucosa of parabronchi and few secondary bronchi. Lumina of few
secondary bronchi contain plant material, aggregates of mixed short plump and slender filamentous bacteria, red cells ,
sloughed epithelium and cellular debris.
Mesentery: The mesothelium is prominent and segmentally lined by yolk proteins. The adjacent interstitium is expanded
by infiltrates of small to moderate numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages.
No other significant changes are observed.
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
Stained Slides - Billed
Results
Jet block #11 Tissue Block 1.00
Jet block #12 Tissue Block 1.00
P a r a s i t o l o g y
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
FECAL EXAM - FLOTATION
Results
Jet S1203972-01.0 Feces
003
No parasite eggs detected
Report 4.5-CAHFS Standard Report - 6/7/2012 Page 3 of 3
The type of cancer that was present in her throat and sinuses was squamous cell, a type not normally seen in chickens and especially in this location. There was inflammation present in the crop and esophagus, along with mixed bacteria of a chronic nature (existing a long time - as opposed to acute, which is coming on suddenly). This was also seen in some of the organs (noted in the report) indicating that the bacteria could have started to go systemic. The inflammation/bacteria could have been caused by both the condition of having cancer and by malnutrition from not eating enough. This type of cancer would have metastasized elsewhere in her body. They saw no evidence of parasite eggs (worms) or trich, however they did not rule out the possibility that she did have trich but it was brought under control and therefore they saw no evidence of it. They indicated to keep an eye on the others in my flock just in case. In conclusion, they felt that the cancer was the primary indicator for her problems. Vet said they get a lot of backyard chickens in and they are quite sturdy animals and are able to withstand a lot but when a disease finally catches up with their ability to hold it off, they go down pretty quickly - which is descriptive of Jet.
On a side note - completely unrelated - (I think) - she was the only girl who ever laid the "fart" eggs. Every now and then I'd get one from her. I still miss her supervising everything I did - when I cleaned the coop, she came up the ladder to watch. She was first at the gate. She had an "outpost" - top of a pen, from which she could watch for me. Thanks Jet, for all our good times.
FINAL REPORT
ID ID Type Taxonomy Gender Age
S p e c i m e n D e t a i l s
Jet Name Chicken Female 3.00 Years
Three year old hen with 2 month history of difficulty eating and yellow masses on esophagus
1. Oral and nasal cavity, squamous cell carcinoma with focally extensive mucosal ulceration, serocellular crust and
superficial bacteria
2. Esophagus/crop: Mucosal epithelial hyperplasia, diffuse, severe with focal epithelial erosion / ulceration and
submucosal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates
3. Kidney: Nephritis, tubulointerstitial, multifocal, with tubular epithelial necrosis, mineralization and proteinosis, chronic.
4. Liver, hepatitis, moderate, multifocal, chronic.
5. Mesentery: Coelomitis, lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic, focally extensive, mild with yolk proteins.
6. Lung: Pneumoconiosis and aspiration of foreign material [incidental finding].
Other laboratory results:
- Negative avian influenza qRT-PCR, pharyngeal swab
- No bacterial growth in liver
- Mixed bacterial flora isolated from cecum (not significant)
- Negative Salmonella PCR, liver and cecum
- No parasite eggs detected in feces
L a b o r a t o r y F i n d i n g s / D i a g n o s i s
5-11-12: Necropsy revealed severe ulcerative stomatitis and variable thickening of the mucosa of the esophagus and crop .
Abnormalities in liver and kidneys may or may not be related to the oral lesions. At this stage no specific diagnosis can be
made; I will rely on histology and other ancillary tests to further characterized my findings. New results will be forwarded as they
become available.
5-28-12: Histology of the affected palate and nasal area revealed a carcinoma; ulceration of the mucosa of the palate / choana
accompanied by serocellular crusting and superficial bacteria are secondary to the neoplasm. Although carcinomas in chickens
are commonly seen, neoplasia in this anatomic location was unusual for backyard chickens in our experience. Lesions in the
esophagus and crop consist of marked and diffuse hyperplasia of the mucosa epithelium with no evidence of neoplastic cells. No
etiologic agents were identified in sections examined and the cause of these lesions was not determined. Whilst the clinical
history mentions Trichomonas sp. infection, there was no histologic evidence of protozoa in the sections examined. Lesions
noted in the liver and kidney are chronic changes; no etiologic agents were identified in sections. Lung and coelomic lesions are
incidental findings.
C a s e S u m m a r y
Report 4.5-CAHFS Standard Report - 6/7/2012 Page 1 of 3CAHFS Final Version 1 Accession # S1203972 June 09, 2012
I sincerely apologize for the delay in completion of this report.
All testing has now been completed.
Chicken came from Blacksmiths corner in LA-exposed to wild pigeons. I bought at 6 months old at which time seemed to
drink excessively. Last two months had increasing symptoms: interest in food -can't eat, difficult swallowing, drooling, no
mucous no respiratory sounds, no smell, on crop massage, chicken burps, shaking head violently, inspection of mouth
shows yellow masses extending into esophagus. Treated with wazine, valbezen, metronidazole and ronidazole.
Disease suspected: Trichamonas
Duration of illness: Unknown
C l i n i c a l H i s t o r y
G r o s s O b s e r v a t i o n s
Necropsy of a black sex-link hen began at 3:05 pm on May 10, 2012.
The hen was received alive, was depressed and reluctant to move. The bird was humanely euthanatized and bled prior to
necropsy.
In the oral cavity, there was focally extensive deep ulceration of the mucosa of the right half of the oral cavity bordering the
choana. This focus of ulceration was covered by thick yellow plaque-like material. Segmentally, the mucosa of the
esophagus was mildly thickened and pale, and there was a solitary, raised, soft translucent nodule at the level of the
glottis. The crop was distended with greenish semisolid ingesta; the mucosa had numerous, slightly elevated, multifocal,
discrete to coalescent white plaques with a finely coarse surface. The liver was moderately swollen, tan/yellow and firm.
Both kidneys were diffusely white. The ovary was active with numerous developing ova; the mucosa of the uterus /vagina
was diffusely thickened, dark-red, with granular surface and contained a non-calcified egg shell and yolk material.
No other significant abnormalities were observed.
B a c t e r i o l o g y
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
BACTERIAL AEROBIC CULTURE
Results
Jet S1203972-01.0 Liver Tissue
002
No growth after 48 hours
Jet S1203972-01.0 Cecal Tissue
004
Mixed flora Lg#
Jet S1203972-01.0 Oral Cavity Swab
005
Mixed flora Lg#
Jet S1203972-01.0 Crop Tissue
006
Mixed flora Mod#
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
FUNGAL CULTURE AND ID
Results
Jet S1203972-01.0 Crop Tissue
006
No fungi detected after 2 weeks
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
Salmonella PCR and Confirmation Culture
Results
Jet S1203972-01.0 Liver Tissue
002
No salmonella detected
Jet S1203972-01.0 Cecal Tissue
004
No salmonella detected
B i o t e c h n o l o g y
Report 4.5-CAHFS Standard Report - 6/7/2012 Page 2 of 3
Avian Influenza matrix gene qRT-PCR
Results
Jet Pharyngeal Swab -
VTM
AI - PHS Negative
H i s t o l o g y
Sections of brain, beak/nasal cavity, trachea, esophagus, crop, heart, lung, proventriculus, ventriculus, small and large
intestine, spleen, liver, kidneys, skeletal muscles, reproductive tract, sciatic nerves and pancreas are examined.
Beak/nasal cavity: In one half of the nasal cavity, extending from the ulcerated mucosa of the palate to the maxillary
sinuses, is a poorly demarcated, unencapsulated, infiltrative, highly cellular epithelial neoplasm. The neoplasm is
comprised of nests and cords of closely packed cells separated by wide trabeculae of connective tissue stroma. Individual
cells are round to oval with distinct cytoplasmic margins, abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, eccentric nucleus with finely
stippled chromatin, and a single magenta nucleolus. There is moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis; mitotic figures
are rare. At the centers of some of the nests, there are foci of individual cell necrosis [acantholysis], cellular debris and
mild heterophilic infiltrates. Within the mass there are fragments of necrotic bone, foci of necrosis, and scattered infiltrates
of moderate numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells and fewer heterophils. Similar infiltrates are present in subepithelial
connective tissue of the maxillary sinus. The ulcerated margin of the palate is lined by cellular debris, degenerate
heterophils, mucus and large aggregates of coccobacilli. Epithelium bordering the ulcerated margin is hyperplastic. There
are moderate multifocal lymphocytic infiltrates throughout the mucosa of the turbinates while their lumina contain
abundant mucus, cellular debris and plant material.
Esophagus/crop: The mucosal epithelium is markedly thickened with formation of broad rete pegs that expand the
subjacent submucosal stroma; the stroma is infiltrated by moderate to large numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells .
There is intracellular and intercellular edema of superficial layers of the epithelium often accompanied by mild to moderate
infiltrates of lymphocytes and heterophils. Multifocally there is epithelial erosion and ulceration with desquamated cells ,
and variable numbers of mixed, short, plump rods and filamentous bacteria lining the eroded / ulcerated margins.
PAS: No fungal organisms observed.
Kidney: Multifocally, tubules are dilated, either reamed of epithelium [segmentally or globally], or lined by flattened or
prominent epithelium, and contain variable amounts of heterophilic granular and cellular debris and /or mineral. Adjacent
interstitium is often infiltrated by small numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells, and rare heterophils. Few tubules
contain lightly eosinophilic proteinaceous material.
Liver: There are mild to moderate infiltrates of lymphocytes and lymphoblasts mainly around blood vessels, and also
randomly scattered throughout the parenchyma. Infiltrates occasionally form nodular aggregates / follicles around large
blood vessels.
Lung: Throughout the parenchyma, aggregates of macrophages containing variable amounts of granular black pigment and
pale yellow crystalline material are present in mucosa of parabronchi and few secondary bronchi. Lumina of few
secondary bronchi contain plant material, aggregates of mixed short plump and slender filamentous bacteria, red cells ,
sloughed epithelium and cellular debris.
Mesentery: The mesothelium is prominent and segmentally lined by yolk proteins. The adjacent interstitium is expanded
by infiltrates of small to moderate numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages.
No other significant changes are observed.
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
Stained Slides - Billed
Results
Jet block #11 Tissue Block 1.00
Jet block #12 Tissue Block 1.00
P a r a s i t o l o g y
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
FECAL EXAM - FLOTATION
Results
Jet S1203972-01.0 Feces
003
No parasite eggs detected
Report 4.5-CAHFS Standard Report - 6/7/2012 Page 3 of 3
