Other Disorders

Neoplasia are growth disturbances characterized by excessive, abnormal proliferation of cells, independent of normal-regulating mechanisms of the animal and persisting after termination of the stimulus that initiated growth. Over lasts years there has been an increase in research into tumors of invertebrates. In cephalopods, reports on the incidence of the tumors or neoplasia are scarce. They have been described as hard compact and homogeneous nodules of connective tissue located in the mantle or at the base of suckers. The aetiological origin of tumors observed in cephalopods is unknown, but it could be related to aquarium maintenance. Other injurious agents, including infectious (virus, bacteria, or parasites) and xenobiotics, may also have produced the lesions. In occasions inflammatory processes have been associated with tumors with severe oedema associated. Inflammation is part of the biological response to body tissues to harmful stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells or effect of xenobiotics. The inflammatory focus is characterized by exudation with interstitial fluid changes and hemocytic migration. Some inflammatory lesions include fibrosis and necrotic cells in the affected area, with loss of histological features and even organ architecture. All this changes have been observed in cephalopods in inflammatory reactions originated by infection with different pathogens. The chapter covers a selection of the reported cases of disorders related to neoplasia and inflammation.