A Case of Multiple Cutaneous Malignant Lymphoma in Reindeer, Probably of Immunologic-Parasitic Origin

Abstract

In a reindeer herd brought in for slaughter in February 1977 in Finnmark county, one animal about 11/2 years old, was found to have about 20 hairless nodules, each about 5 cm in diameter, in the skin. The nodules were of discoid shape and well demarcated, and made only slight impressions in the underlying muscles. They were found to be neoplasms, and should probably be classified as a malignant lymphoma of histiocytic type (Smith et al. 1972). Metastases were found in the prescapular lymph nodes. The animal was well-fed and without clinical signs of general disease. The distribution of the nodules and the absence of subcutaneous larvae of the very common reindeer grub fly (Oedemagena tarandi) led to the conclusion that the condition was most probably a result of a pathological immune reaction to parasitic larvae.

Sammendrag

I en flokk reinsdyr som skulle slaktes i februar 1977 i Finnmark hadde ett, ca 11/2 år gammelt, dyr ca. 20 hårløse knuter på ryggen. Knutene var ca 5 cm i diameter, av regelmessig discoid fasong og velavgrenset. Knutene laget impresjoner i den underliggende muskulatur. De ble funnet å være nydannelser som tilsvarer maligne lymfomer, histiocyttær type (Smith et al. 1972). Metastaser ble påvist i de prescap ulære lymfekjertler. Dyret var i alminnelig godt hold og viste ingen tegn på generell sykdom. Lokaliseringen av nydannelsene sammen med det faktum at det ikke ble påvist subcutane larver av reinens hudbrems (Oedemagena tarandi) hos dette dyret, gjør det rimelig å anta at nydannelsen er et resultat av en patologisk immunreaksjon.