Hepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Two Prairie Dogs (Cynomys Ludovicianus)

Abstract

In two blacktailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), hepatocellular carcinoma with metastasis to the lung, co-existing chronic active hepatitis, and hyperplasia of hepatocytes in the non-neoplastic areas of the liver tissue were observed. The hyperplastic hepatocytes had many eosinophilic inclusion bodies positive for orcein stain in their cytoplasm. Electron microscopy revealed areas of a specific mail-like mesh structure in the location of the cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. Ultrastructure of inclusion bodies differed from that of the hepadna virus usually associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, and hepadna virus-like particles were not observed.