Vet Pathol Email Content Delivery
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Chandra, A. M. S.
Right arrow Articles by Munn, R. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Chandra, A. M. S.
Right arrow Articles by Munn, R. J.
Vet Pathol 38:561-564 (2001)
© 2001 American College of Veterinary Pathologists
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS AND CASE REPORTS

Retroviral Particles in Neoplasms of Burmese Pythons (Python molurus bivittatus)

A. M. S. Chandra, E. R. Jacobson and R. J. Munn

Abstract

Neoplastic diseases associated with retroviruses were diagnosed in four Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivattatus) from a single collection. Snake No. 1 was a 7-year-old female with recurrent undifferentiated mesenchymal round cell tumor (lymphosarcoma) of the oral cavity. At necropsy, similar neoplastic masses were evident in the uterus and ovary, and there was diffuse involvement of the spleen. Snake No. 2 was a 4.5-year-old female that was euthanatized because of complications following resection of a segmental colonic adenocarcinoma. Snake No. 3 was a 5-year-old female that was euthanatized because of a large transitional cell carcinoma of the right kidney. Snake No. 4 was a 19-year-old female that was euthanatized following recurrence of an intermandibular fibrosarcoma. Ultrastructural examination revealed few to numerous extracellular and intracellular (intravacuolar) type C-like retroviral particles in all tumors. Tumors were about 90–95 nm in diameter, with an electron-dense core and bilaminar external membrane. The relationship of the intraneoplastic viral particles to the etiology of the tumors is uncertain.

Key words: Pythons; retrovirus; snakes; tumors; ultrastructure.

Request reprints from A. M. S. Chandra, Experimental Pathology Labs, PO Box 12766, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (USA). E-mail: vetpathologist{at}yahoo.com.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Vet PatholHome page
M. E. Pereira and T. C. Viner
Oviduct Adenocarcinoma in Some Species of Captive Snakes
Vet. Pathol., September 1, 2008; 45(5): 693 - 697.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Vet PatholHome page
J. Oros, H. Lorenzo, M. Andrada, and J. Recuero
Type A-like Retroviral Particles in a Metastatic Intestinal Adenocarcinoma in an Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)
Vet. Pathol., September 1, 2004; 41(5): 515 - 518.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Virol.Home page
J. B. Huder, J. Boni, J.-M. Hatt, G. Soldati, H. Lutz, and J. Schupbach
Identification and Characterization of Two Closely Related Unclassifiable Endogenous Retroviruses in Pythons (Python molurus and Python curtus)
J. Virol., June 27, 2002; 76(15): 7607 - 7615.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2001 by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.