Coelomic mass in a rock dove (Columba livia)

Abstract

A 15-year-old domestic rock dove (Columbia livia) was presented to the Service de Médecine Zoologique of the Université de Montréal with a 10-day history of lethargy and chronic weight loss of 1-year duration. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the coelomic cavity revealed the presence of effusion and a well-defined mass containing variably sized hypoechoic nodules of unknown origin. Cytologic evaluation of fine-needle aspirates of the mass indicated a malignant epithelial tumor consisting of round cells arranged individually and in clusters, with large nuclei, prominent nucleoli, moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis, atypical mitoses, occasional binucleation and multinucleation, and large numbers of ruptured cells. A diagnosis of seminoma was established on histologic sections obtained at necropsy. The cytologic features of this tumor were similar to those of canine seminomas except for the presence of lymphocytes, which were not observed in significant numbers in cytologic smears or histologic sections. Seminoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for a space-occupying mass causing organ displacement within the coelomic cavity of a male bird.