Case Report: Metastatic renal giant-cell sarcoma in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)

Pablo Jose Diaz Santana^1,2*Javier Pedro Deniz Marrero²Cecilia Gola²Alejandro Suarez-Bonnet³

• ¹University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
• ²Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guilford, Surrey, United Kingdom
• ³Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, England, United Kingdom

The scientific literature referring to tumors in African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) is expanding, enhanced by an increased lifespan under human care. This work compiles the clinical records and pathologic findings in a 2-year and 7-month-old male African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) with a metastatic giant-cell renal sarcoma. Metastases to lungs, retroperitoneum, lymph nodes, pericardial and mediastinal adipose tissue were observed. Immunohistochemical assessment with a panel of eleven antibodies (cytokeratins [AE1/AE3, CK19, and CK20], vimentin, thyroid transcription factor-1, thyroglobulin, Ki67, Iba-1, S100, synaptophysin, and CD31) was performed yielding negative immunolabeling in the neoplastic cells. To the author's knowledge, neoplasms arising from the kidney in the African pygmy hedgehogs are rarely reported and a metastatic giant-cell renal sarcoma has not been previously described. This case report aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge referring to neoplasm development and help veterinary specialists with the characterization of the pathologic conditions affecting this species.