Journal Article

An intestinal histiocytic sarcoma in a collared peccary (Pecari tajacu): a case report

dos Santos, Wanderson Lucas Alves, Diniz, João Augusto Rodrigues Alves, de Oliveira, Radan Elvis Matias, de Oliveira, Thalita Evani Silva, de Souto, Erick Platini Ferreira, de Oliveira, Moacir Franco, Olinda, Robério Gomes, Batista, Jael Soares, de Sousa, Ana Caroline Freitas Caetano, Lopes, Igor Renno Guimarães

2025

Overview

Background Research on cancer in wild animals provides important insights into the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Histiocytic sarcomas comprise a rare malignant macrophage-dendritic cell lineage neoplasm in wildlife. This study reports a case of histiocytic sarcoma in the small intestine of a collared peccary ( Pecari tajacu ), describing its clinical, anatomopathological, and immunohistochemical aspects. Case presentation A six-year-old male collared peccary maintained in captivity at a facility in Northeastern Brazil presented progressive weight loss, diarrhea, anorexia, dyspnea, lethargy, abdominal distension, bristled fur, and pale mucous membranes. A complete blood count indicated a mild degree of anemia and moderate leukocytosis. Treatment included anti-inflammatories and antibiotics; however, on the 18th day after initial presentation, the animal was found dead in its enclosure. An anatomopathological examination revealed that the animal exhibited poor body condition, scant body fat with a gelatinous appearance, hydrothorax, pulmonary edema, and ascites. Thickening of the duodenal wall was observed, along with the presence of a yellowish-white tumor. Histopathological examination of the affected intestinal segment revealed a neoplastic proliferation of round cells with large, hyperchromatic nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and a high mitotic index (20 mitoses per high-power field). Numerous multinucleated and binucleated giant cells were present. The neoplastic cells extensively infiltrated all layers of the intestinal wall, from the mucosa to the serosa. Immunohistochemical analysis showed strong positivity for macrophage/mononuclear phagocytic lineage markers (CD18, IBA-1, and lysozyme), while negative for T-cell (CD3), B-cell (CD79), and plasma cell (MUM1) markers. The proliferation index assessed by Ki-67 was approximately 60%. Conclusions The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed the diagnosis of intestinal histiocytic sarcoma in a collared peccary, representing the first documented case of this neoplasm in this species.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Nature Publishing Group,BMC
• Subject: Analysis / anemia / Animal Anatomy / Animals / Anorexia / Antibiotics / Antibodies / Antigens / Artiodactyla / Ascites / B cells / B-lymphocytes / Blood / body condition / Body fat / Brazil / Cancer / captive animals / Captivity / Carcinogenesis / Case Report / case studies / CD18 antigen / CD3 antigen / Cell lineage / Cell proliferation / Dendritic cells / Development and progression / Diarrhea / Dyspnea / Edema / Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid / Fatal Outcome / fur / Histiocytic Sarcoma - diagnosis / Histiocytic Sarcoma - pathology / Histiocytic Sarcoma - veterinary / Histology / histopathology / Immunohistochemistry / Intestinal Neoplasms - diagnosis / Intestinal Neoplasms - pathology / Intestinal Neoplasms - veterinary / Leukocytosis / Lymphocytes B / Lymphocytes T / Lysozyme / Macrophages / Male / males / Medical examination / Medical prognosis / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mitosis / Morphology / mucosa / Neoplasia / Neoplasm / Nucleoli / Oncology, Experimental / Pecari tajacu / Phagocytes / Respiration / Sarcoma / serosa / Small intestine / species / Stains & staining / T cells / T-lymphocytes / Tayassuidae / Tumors / Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science / Weight loss / wildlife / Wildlife pathology