Neoplasms in domestic hamsters in Southern Brazil : epidemiological and pathological aspects of 40 cases

Abstract

Although neoplasms are commonly reported in domestic hamsters, retrospective studies approaching spontaneous tumors with data regarding epidemiological findings are scarce. The present study aimed to describe the epidemiological and pathological findings of 40 cases of tumors in domestic hamsters diagnosed in a veterinary pathology laboratory in Southern Brazil from 2002 to 2019. Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) was the most commonly affected species (16/40), followed by Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus, 11/40) and Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus, 4/40). Among the cases, 57.5% were females (23/40), while 42.5% were males (17/40). The affected hamsters’ median age was of 14-months old, with an age range of 8- to 36-months old. Twenty-four cases were assessed as anatomopathological samples (biopsies), while 16 were composed of carcasses submitted to postmortem examination, and, therefore, the neoplasm was related to the cause of death. The integumentary system was frequently affected (60%, 24/40), followed by the female reproductive tract (22.5%, 9/40), hematopoietic system (10%, 4/40), digestive tract (5%, 2/40), and endocrine system (2.5%, 1/40). The most frequent neoplasm was squamous cell carcinoma (35%, 14/40), mostly on the lip/nasal region (50%, 7/14). Other tumors included fibrosarcoma (10%, 4/40), lymphoma (10%, 4/40), mammary cystadenoma (10%, 4/40), apocrine sweat gland adenoma (7.5%, 3/40), hemangiosarcoma (5%, 2/40), leiomyosarcoma (5%, 2/40), and granulosa ovarian cell tumor (5%, 2/40). The five remaining cases occurred individually and were composed of hepatoid gland adenoma, solid thyroid carcinoma, cutaneous melanoma, ovarian teratoma, and cutaneous trichoblastoma. Neoplasms were identified as an important cause of death and major reason to perform biopsy in domestic hamsters in Southern Brazil.

Embora neoplasmas em hamsters domésticos sejam comumente relatados, estudos retrospectivos abordando neoplasias espontâneas e os dados epidemiológicos associados são escassos. O presente estudo teve o objetivo de descrever os principais achados epidemiológicos e patológicos de 40 casos de tumores em hamsters domésticos diagnosticados em um laboratório de patologia veterinária do Sul do Brasil de 2002 a 2019. A principal espécie acometida foi o hamster chinês (Cricetulus griseus, 16/40), seguido por hamster anão russo siberiano (Phodopus sungorus, 11/40) e hamster sírio (Mesocricetus auratus, 4/40). As fêmeas corresponderam a 57,5% dos casos (23/40), enquanto os machos representaram 42,5% (17/40). Foram afetados roedores com uma faixa etária de 8 a 36 meses de idade, e uma mediana de 14 meses. Do total de casos, 24 foram exames anatomopatológicos (biopsias) e 16 casos foram examinados através de necropsia e, portanto, relacionados com a causa da morte dos animais. O sistema tegumentar foi o mais frequentemente acometido (60%; 24/40), seguido pelo trato reprodutivo (22,5%; 9/40), sistema hematopoietico (10%; 4/40), trato digestório (5%; 2/40) e sistema endócrino (2,5%; 1/40). A neoplasia mais frequentemente diagnosticada foi o carcinoma de células escamosas (35%; 14/40), localizado principalmente em região labionasal (50%; 7/14). Outros tumores incluíram fibrossarcoma (10%; 4/40), linfoma (10%; 4/40), adenoma cístico de glândula mamária (10%; 4/40), adenoma de glândula sudorípara (7,5%; 3/40), hemangiossarcoma (5%; 2/40), leiomiossarcoma (5%; 2/40) e tumor de células da granulosa (5%; 2/40). Os outros cinco casos remanescentes ocorreram individualmente e eram compostos por adenoma de glândula hepatoide, carcinoma sólido de tireoide, melanoma cutâneo, teratoma ovariano e tricoblastoma cutâneo. Neoplasmas foram identificados como importantes causas de morte ou razões para realização de biopsia em hamsters domésticos no Sul do Brasil.