Prevalence of psammoma bodies in meninges and choroid plexuses of raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Parramore Island, Virginia. 2001

A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.

Microscopic evidence of multifocal mineralizations (psammoma bodies) were seen in brains of 33/53 (62%) raccoons (Procyon lotor) necropsied on Parramore Island, Virginia. Most mineralized foci had concentric laminations and were present in small capillaries of meninges of the brain (15/33), in choroid plexus (3/33), or at both these sites (13/33). In 2 raccoons, the lesions were confined to the meninges of the proximal cervical spinal cord. In most cases, the affected vessels appeared to have been completely occluded. However, no evidence of ischemic changes in the brain parenchyma was seen, and none of the raccoons had abnormal neurologic signs prior to euthanasia. The condition appears to be a common incidental histopathologic finding in raccoons from the eastern United States. Although the exact cause of this condition is not known, a primary vascular insult with resultant dystrophic mineralization of the affected vessels is suspected.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008578 Meninges The three membranes that cover the BRAIN and the SPINAL CORD. They are the dura mater, the arachnoid, and the pia mater.
D010710 Phosphates Inorganic salts of phosphoric acid. Inorganic Phosphate,Phosphates, Inorganic,Inorganic Phosphates,Orthophosphate,Phosphate,Phosphate, Inorganic
D011821 Raccoons Carnivores of the genus Procyon of the family PROCYONIDAE. Two subgenera and seven species are currently recognized. They range from southern Canada to Panama and are found in several of the Caribbean Islands. Procyon,Procyons,Raccoon
D002114 Calcinosis Pathologic deposition of calcium salts in tissues. Calcification, Pathologic,Calcinosis, Tumoral,Microcalcification,Microcalcinosis,Pathologic Calcification,Calcinoses,Calcinoses, Tumoral,Microcalcifications,Microcalcinoses,Tumoral Calcinoses,Tumoral Calcinosis
D002119 Calcium Carbonate Carbonic acid calcium salt (CaCO3). An odorless, tasteless powder or crystal that occurs in nature. It is used therapeutically as a phosphate buffer in hemodialysis patients and as a calcium supplement. Aragonite,Calcite,Chalk,Limestone,Marble,Milk of Calcium,Vaterite,Calcium Milk,Carbonate, Calcium
D002493 Central Nervous System Diseases Diseases of any component of the brain (including the cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, brain stem, and cerebellum) or the spinal cord. CNS Disease,Central Nervous System Disease,Central Nervous System Disorder,CNS Diseases,Central Nervous System Disorders
D002831 Choroid Plexus A villous structure of tangled masses of BLOOD VESSELS contained within the third, lateral, and fourth ventricles of the BRAIN. It regulates part of the production and composition of CEREBROSPINAL FLUID. Chorioid Plexus,Plexus Choroideus,Choroideus, Plexus,Plexus, Chorioid,Plexus, Choroid
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

Related Publications

A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
June 1959, The Journal of parasitology,
A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
June 2005, The Journal of parasitology,
A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
August 2004, The Journal of parasitology,
A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
April 2005, The Journal of parasitology,
A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
June 2020, Emerging infectious diseases,
A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
November 1999, Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc,
A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
March 2002, Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc,
A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
May 1997, Veterinary pathology,
A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
October 1994, Journal of wildlife diseases,
A N Hamir, and C A Hanlon, and C E Rupprecht
December 2000, The Journal of parasitology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!