Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed and treated in a female
By Gosbell, Matthew et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2021·Melbourne Bird Veterinary Clinic, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in a Cockatiel ().
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A 24-year-old female cockatiel was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia after blood tests showed a high number of abnormal white blood cells. Initially, the vet decided to wait before starting treatment, but as the bird's condition worsened, they began using a medication called chlorambucil, which is often used for similar issues in humans. While this treatment helped stabilize her condition, it did not cure the leukemia. Sadly, the cockatiel was euthanized 15 months after her diagnosis due to the progression of the disease.
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Abstract
A 24-year-old, female cockatiel () was diagnosed and treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Diagnosis was based on a persistent lymphocytosis, with counts increasing 10 times from reference intervals with a high percentage of well-differentiated lymphocytes in the bone marrow. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed neoplastic cells of T-cell origin. Specific treatment for the disease was initially withheld but commenced based on an increasing lymphocytosis and decreasing packed cell volume. Therapeutic management of the cockatiel's chronic lymphocytic leukemia was based on human protocols. Treatment with chlorambucil stabilized the disease but did not result in a significant regression of the neoplasm. The bird was euthanatized 15 months after the initial diagnosis and 8 months after treatment commenced. On the postmortem examination, extensive T-cell lymphocytic infiltration was found throughout the internal organs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34677033/