Malignant Melanoma in a Female Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Abstract

Melanomas are malignant neoplasms originating from melanocytes. They reported in birds. In this case, macroscopic and microscopic (the histopathologic and IHC) findings supported a final diagnosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma in a mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos). A female mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) was observed with a mass on the ventral portion of the neck. The bird was anes- thetized with Diazepam/Ketamine. A skin incision was made on the ventral surface of the mass and blunt dissection was performed to separate the mass. The incision was sutured by a simple interrupted suture pattern. Mass was surgically excised for histopathological evaluation. Histologically, the mass was composed of nests and sheets of anaplastic, epithelioid, multinucleated and polygonal cells con- taining variable amounts of brown to black granules of melanin. The neoplasm showed immunoreactiv- ity for S-100 and Melan-A in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells. Based on the histopathological and IHC findings, this is the first report of malignant melanoma in a mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos).