Pathologic Findings of Cranial Abscesses Involving the Pituitary Gland in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) in Pennsylvania

Intracranial abscesses are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in neurologic free-ranging white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>). These infections are typically attributed to <i>Trueperella pyogenes</i> and occur most often in adult males with concurrent antl...

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Main Authors: Jack Timmons, Matthew Shaub, Luke Scherer, Ian Gereg, Lauren Maxwell, Lane Potts, Madison Stevens, Madeline Vile, Erica A. Miller, Kevin D. Niedringhaus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/409
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author Jack Timmons
Matthew Shaub
Luke Scherer
Ian Gereg
Lauren Maxwell
Lane Potts
Madison Stevens
Madeline Vile
Erica A. Miller
Kevin D. Niedringhaus
author_facet Jack Timmons
Matthew Shaub
Luke Scherer
Ian Gereg
Lauren Maxwell
Lane Potts
Madison Stevens
Madeline Vile
Erica A. Miller
Kevin D. Niedringhaus
author_sort Jack Timmons
collection DOAJ
description Intracranial abscesses are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in neurologic free-ranging white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>). These infections are typically attributed to <i>Trueperella pyogenes</i> and occur most often in adult males with concurrent antler and skull infections. A subset of intracranial abscesses in white-tailed deer are localized to the pituitary gland, with previously described reports in five white-tailed deer. In this case series, five additional free-ranging white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania were diagnosed with pituitary abscesses at necropsy. Two cases were female deer, and four cases were yearling or juvenile deer. Two cases presented with conjunctivitis and keratitis due to extension of pituitary abscesses into the retrobulbar and peri-orbital spaces. One case had a concurrent liver abscess. This case series demonstrates a unique clinical presentation of keratitis and conjunctivitis and emphasizes the potentially unique pathogenesis for pituitary abscesses compared to other intracranial abscesses described in white-tailed deer.
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spelling doaj-art-df78294f91c74eeda2fc018d8361053c2025-08-20T03:12:34ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-02-0115340910.3390/ani15030409Pathologic Findings of Cranial Abscesses Involving the Pituitary Gland in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) in PennsylvaniaJack Timmons0Matthew Shaub1Luke Scherer2Ian Gereg3Lauren Maxwell4Lane Potts5Madison Stevens6Madeline Vile7Erica A. Miller8Kevin D. Niedringhaus9College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USAWildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAWildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAWildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAWildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAWildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAWildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAWildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAWildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAWildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAIntracranial abscesses are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in neurologic free-ranging white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>). These infections are typically attributed to <i>Trueperella pyogenes</i> and occur most often in adult males with concurrent antler and skull infections. A subset of intracranial abscesses in white-tailed deer are localized to the pituitary gland, with previously described reports in five white-tailed deer. In this case series, five additional free-ranging white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania were diagnosed with pituitary abscesses at necropsy. Two cases were female deer, and four cases were yearling or juvenile deer. Two cases presented with conjunctivitis and keratitis due to extension of pituitary abscesses into the retrobulbar and peri-orbital spaces. One case had a concurrent liver abscess. This case series demonstrates a unique clinical presentation of keratitis and conjunctivitis and emphasizes the potentially unique pathogenesis for pituitary abscesses compared to other intracranial abscesses described in white-tailed deer.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/409abscessdeerneurologic disease<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>pituitary abscess<i>Trueperella pyogenes</i>
spellingShingle Jack Timmons
Matthew Shaub
Luke Scherer
Ian Gereg
Lauren Maxwell
Lane Potts
Madison Stevens
Madeline Vile
Erica A. Miller
Kevin D. Niedringhaus
Pathologic Findings of Cranial Abscesses Involving the Pituitary Gland in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) in Pennsylvania
Animals
abscess
deer
neurologic disease
<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>
pituitary abscess
<i>Trueperella pyogenes</i>
title Pathologic Findings of Cranial Abscesses Involving the Pituitary Gland in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) in Pennsylvania
title_full Pathologic Findings of Cranial Abscesses Involving the Pituitary Gland in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) in Pennsylvania
title_fullStr Pathologic Findings of Cranial Abscesses Involving the Pituitary Gland in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) in Pennsylvania
title_full_unstemmed Pathologic Findings of Cranial Abscesses Involving the Pituitary Gland in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) in Pennsylvania
title_short Pathologic Findings of Cranial Abscesses Involving the Pituitary Gland in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) in Pennsylvania
title_sort pathologic findings of cranial abscesses involving the pituitary gland in free ranging white tailed deer i odocoileus virginianus i in pennsylvania
topic abscess
deer
neurologic disease
<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>
pituitary abscess
<i>Trueperella pyogenes</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/409
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