Bovine Leukosis with Hind Limb Paresis due to Direct Invasion of Intra-Abdominal Neoplastic Tissue to the Vertebral Canal

Abstract

A Holstein cow (5 years and 3 months old) presented with hind limb paresis and was unable to stand. Bovine leukosis was suspected given the enlargement of cervical lymph nodes and existence of an abdominal mass detected by rectal palpation; however, it could not be confirmed by blood examination and fine needle aspiration of cervical lymph nodes. Pathological examination revealed a multinodular mass (60 × 40 × 20 cm) on the dorsal abdomen that was invasive into the iliopsoas muscle. A portion of the mass invaded the vertebral canal between the 5th and 6th intervertebral foramina and compressed the spinal cord and nerves. Histopathological examination revealed the mass to be T-cell lymphoma based on CD3 positivity. Given that antibodies against bovine leukemia virus were not detected, the case was diagnosed as sporadic type bovine leukosis.