Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Tumours of Small Pet Mammals-Retrospective Study of 256 Cases (2014-2021)

Simple Summary Several species of small mammals are very popular as companion pet animals and therefore demand professional veterinary care, including proper diagnostic and treatment procedures. The incidence of neoplastic diseases in companion pet animals has increased over time, as it has in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of cutaneous tumours in small mammal pets, including guinea pigs, rats, pet rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, degus, African pygmy hedgehogs, Mongolian gerbils and chinchillas, submitted for histopathology in 2014-2021. Malignant tumours represented the predominant group of cutaneous tumours in rats, African pygmy hedgehogs, degus and chinchillas, and represented a significant percentage of lesions in guinea pigs, pet rabbits, ferrets, hamsters and Mongolian gerbils. We also described the first case of melanocytoma in a pet rabbit, epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma in a degu, cutaneous histiocytic sarcoma in a Mongolian gerbil, fibrosarcoma in two chinchillas and epithelioid haemangioma in a chinchilla. The incidence of malignant neoplasms among spontaneous integumentary tumours submitted for histopathology is high in many species of small mammal pets. Therefore, each cutaneous tumour should be sampled for further diagnosis and treatment. Since small mammals are gaining popularity as pets in Poland, the number of tumour samples submitted for histopathological examination is quite high. This study was a retrospective analysis of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumours in small pet mammals submitted for histopathology in 2014-2021. The analysis included 256 tumours sampled from 103 guinea pigs, 53 rats, 43 pet rabbits, 21 ferrets, 17 hamsters, 8 degus, 5 African pygmy hedgehogs, 3 Mongolian gerbils and 3 chinchillas. Tumours were diagnosed based on routine histopathology, with additional immunohistochemistry when necessary. The results of this study revealed that the vast majority of cutaneous tumours in guinea pigs were benign, with a predominance of lipoma. Adnexal tumours constituted a significant percentage of cutaneous tumours in guinea pigs (24.3%, with the most common being trichofolliculoma), pet rabbits (46.5%, with the most common being trichoblastoma), ferrets (33.3%, mostly derived from sebaceous glands), hamsters (52.9%, with the most common being trichoepithelioma) and gerbils (66.7%, scent gland epithelioma). Soft tissue sarcomas were a predominant group of tumours in rats (52.8%, with the most common being fibrosarcoma), African pygmy hedgehogs (100%), degus (87.5%) and chinchillas (66.7%). Melanocytic tumours were only sporadically seen in small mammal pets. Mast cell tumours were diagnosed only in ferrets, while epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma was diagnosed only in a hamster and a degu. In summary, malignant tumours constitute a significant percentage of cutaneous tumours in many species of small mammal pets. Therefore, each cutaneous tumour should be sampled for further cytologic or histopathologic diagnosis.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the incidence of cutaneous tumors in small mammals pets from 2014-2021, finding that malignant tumors constitute a significant percentage in many species of small mammal pets, emphasizing the importance of sampling each cutaneous tumor for further diagnosis and treatment.