Pathological evaluation of lymphoid leukosis in a racing pigeon (Columba livia domestica)

A lympho-proliferative (Lymphoid leukosis/LL) disease was identified in a two-year old male racer pigeon (Columba livia domestica) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Clinically, the bird showed in-appetence, progressive emaciation, loss of breast muscles and respiratory distress. On exploratory puncture, revealed accumulation of blood in the abdominal cavity. Post-mortem examination showed an enlarged spleen and liver. The surfaces of liver & spleen were irregular, with off-white areas. In addition, normal splenic tissue and as well as the viscera had whitish areas. The greatly enlarged liver had off-white discoloration. The liver also appeared somewhat like lymphoid leukosis in chicken and the diffuse infiltration with lymphoid cells, predominantly with lymphoblasts suggested a case of lymphoid leucosis.