AUTHOR=d'Aquino Ilaria , Piegari Giuseppe , Casciaro Silvia Mariagiovanna , Prisco Francesco , Rosato Guido , Silvestre Pasquale , Degli Uberti Barbara , Capasso Michele , Laricchiuta Piero , Paciello Orlando , Russo Valeria 

TITLE=An Overview of Neoplasia in Captive Wild Felids in Southern Italy Zoos

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.899481

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.899481

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of neoplasms in captive wild felids in Southern Italy zoos over a 13-year period (2008–2021) and to investigate macroscopic and histologic tumor findings in these animals. A total of 24 cases were necropsied, 9 males and 15 females, with age ranging from 6 to 19 years, including 12 tigers (<italic>Panthera tigris</italic>), 7 leopards (<italic>Panthera pardus</italic>), 4 lions (<italic>Panthera leo</italic>), and 1 black jaguar (<italic>Panthera onca</italic>). Diagnosis of neoplasm was made in 14/24 cases (58.3%). Tumors diagnosed were two cholangiocarcinomas, two hemangiosarcomas of the liver, two uterine leiomyomas, a renal adenocarcinoma, an adrenal gland adenoma, a thyroid carcinoma, an oral squamous cell carcinoma, an osteoma, a meningioma, a mesothelioma, an esophageal leiomyosarcoma, a muscoloskeletal leiomyosarcoma and a thyroid adenoma. The malignant and benign tumors were 62.5 and 37.5%, respectively. Among malignant tumors, no metastasis was observed in 50% of cases; in 10% of cases metastasis involved only regional lymph nodes; and distant metastases were found in 40% of cases. Based on our findings, the liver was the most frequent primary tumor site (25%). The high rates of malignant and widely metastatic neoplasms suggest the importance of active monitoring and management of neoplasia in these threatened and endangered species.</p>