Liposarcoma in a veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)

Abstract

A three year-old male veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) with clinical signs of anorexia and distended coelom was evaluated. Radiographs and ultrasonography revealed coelomic and pericardial effusion. Coelomocentesis and pericardiocentesis yielded a modified transudate. Based on the poor response to symptomatic therapy with a poor prognosis the chameleon was euthanized. The histopathological examination of lung, liver, heart and kidney tissue revealed proliferation of poorly differentiated cells with pleomorphic nuclei and abundant, finely vacuolated cytoplasm, a typical feature of liposarcoma. This is the first diagnosis of a liposarcoma with metastasis in several organs of a veiled chameleon