Lymphoid Flashcards
(91 cards)
List 6 possible responses of the thymus to injury.
Hypoplasia
Atrophy – most common
Haemorrhages/hematoma
Inflammation
Hyperplasia
Neoplasia
Describe thymic hypoplasia.
- Congenital
- Secondary to immunodeficiencies affecting T cells
- Smaller and less populate organs
- Foals and certain dog breeds
How can premature atrophy and physiological involution be distinguished?
Thymus is very large in neonate. Encounters a natural involution after sexual maturity, it can be very difficult to differentiate atrophy from involution. An extremely small thymus in neonatal animals should be considered abnormal
Define atrophy.
Normal when born but then alteration of its cellular density and/or cellular composition and subsequent lobular shrinkage.
What are the causes of thymic atrophy?
- Infectious agents
- Stress – apoptosis of thymic T cells
- Environmental contaminants – mycotoxins, dioxins, PCB, lead, mercury
- Immunotoxicants – anticancer drugs, radiation
- Malnutrition – vitamin B6 or zinc deficiencies causing immunosuppression
Which infectious agents could cause thymic atrophy in cats, dogs, cattle, horses and pigs?
- FIV, FeLV, Parvovirus – cats
- Distemper, Parvovirus – dogs
- Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus – cattle
- Equine Herpes Virus 1 – horses
- Classical swine fever virus and PRRS – pigs
What are the causes of thymic haemorrhage or haematoma?
- Thoracic trauma
- Overstretching of the neck
- Rupture of aortic aneurisms
- Neoplasms
- Intoxication with anticoagulant rodenticides
- Spontaneous idiopathic form (young dogs)
Why is inflammation an uncommon cause of thymic lesions?
Usually, viral infections cause destruction of the lymphoid components (lymphocytolysis) and subsequent atrophy rather than an inflammatory response.
What is diffuse thymic hyperplasia?
- Usually observed in calves, rabbits and birds that have been repeatedly immunised or it simply represent a physiological variation.
- Incidental finding
- No clinical signs reported
- Rare or considered accidental
What may follicular thymic hyperplasia be indicative of?
Chronic inflammation or immunologic response.
What are the properties of thymomas?
- Usually benign epithelial cell tumour in goats, cats and dogs in the cranial mediastinum
- Slow growing so occurs in older animals
- Can be cystic, usually appear whiteish
What is the malignant counterpart of a thymoma?
Thymic carcinoma, which is extremely rare.
- Highly invasive
- Most common subtype is the squamous cell carcinoma, common in dogs
In which animals are thymic lymphomas common?
Cats 1-10 years old
Beef cattle 6 to 24 months old
What are the clinical signs of thymus neoplasia?
Clinical signs reflect local compression of the adjacent anatomical structures:
Dyspnoea and oedema due to compression and CVS compromise.
What is the function of spleen trabeculae?
Structural support and contraction for blood expulsion
What is the function of spleen red pulp?
- Erythrocyte storage
- Filtering of old/defective erythrocytes by macrophages
- Filtering of particles and pathogens by macrophages
What is the white pulp of the spleen made up of?
Macrophages
Antigen presenting cells
B and T lymphocytes
What are the causes of splenic atrophy?
- Cachexia due to starvation, malignant neoplastic diseases, malabsorption syndromes
- Chronic radiation
What is senile splenic atrophy?
Common in elderly dogs and horses and is normal
What is the appearance of splenic atrophy?
Small spleen with irregular, pale surface
What are the possible aetiologies of splenic atrophy?
Same as thymic:
- Infectious agents - FIV, FeLV, parvo, distemper, bovine viral diarrhoea virus, EHV1, classical swine fever, PRRS
- Stress - apoptosis of splenic T cells
- Environmental contaminants – mycotoxins, dioxins, PCB, heavy metal (lead, mercury)
- Immunotoxicants – anticancer drugs, radiation
- Malnutrition – vitamin B6 or zinc deficiencies causing immunosuppression
Name 3 examples of splenic overload and infiltration.
Siderotic plaques
Haemosiderosis
Amyloidosis
What are siderotic plaques?
- Incidental finding in old dogs
- Possible link to previous trauma
- Sidero-calcic (iron, calcium ion) impregnation/deposition
- Crusty appearance
What is haemosiderosis?
- Reduced rate of erythropoiesis
- Rapid destruction of erythrocytes due to macrophages
- Pigment is brown/gold