Severe visceral pentastomiasis in an oriental small-clawed otter with functional thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

In January 2016, a 20-year-old female oriental small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) from Night Safari in Singapore was euthanized and diagnosed with a thyroid gland carcinoma. Postmortem examination and histology also revealed metastasis to the regional lymph nodes and severe visceral pentastomiasis. Grossly, the lymph nodes were infested, and encapsulation was observed on the visceral serosal surface. Histopathologically, the lymph nodes were encysted by a thick fibrous connective capsule with minimal inflammatory response. Pentastomiasis has been previously reported in the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Malaysia. This report is the first case of severe visceral pentastomiasis in an oriental small-clawed otter with functional thyroid carcinoma.