Abstract:
This retrospective study documents the occurrence of single and multiple cutaneous apocrine gland
tumours (CATs) on the dorsal midline of 16 captive African wild dogs (AWDs, Lycaon pictus) derived from
161 submissions to diagnostic laboratories in South Africa, France and Germany between 1997 and 2022.
Animals included in the study came from zoological institutions in South Africa (n ¼ 2), France (n ¼ 5)
and Germany (n ¼ 1) and ranged from 5 to 14 years of age. Fifteen affected animals were female (94%)
and one was male. CATs presented as raised, hairless, multilobular, grey firm masses, consistently located
along the dorsal midline. Apart from a single cutaneous apocrine adenoma and a cystadenoma occurring
concurrently with two non-cystic adenocarcinomas, neoplasms were consistent with malignant cutaneous
apocrine adenocarcinomas with lymphatic spread and visceral metastases. Advanced age and
female sex were identified as risk factors. A genetic component or association with the increasing use of
GnRH agonist contraceptives was suspected but could not be established. This study highlights the need
for close clinical monitoring of AWDs over the age of 5 years for the development of CATs along the
dorsal midline and supports early surgical intervention. More research is needed to determine the role of
inbreeding, endocrine changes and husbandry factors that may play a role in the development of CATs on
the dorsal midline of AWDs.
Description:
AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIAL : Part of the case material included in the present study that
derived from France was included in a poster presentation on familial occurrence of CATs in AWDs (cases 2, 9, 10 and 11) [19].
These cases and cases 3 and 8 were also included in a poster presentation
as part of a retrospective study on neoplasms in AWDs in
French zoological collections [7].
