Estudo retrospectivo de afecções neoplásicas em coelhos domésticos atendidos no hospital veterinário da UFPB de 2019 - 2024

Abstract

Lagomorphs are an order of herbivorous mammals found in various habitats around the world, from tundra to tropical forests, and they play important roles in ecosystems. In recent decades, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has undergone a domestication process and has become increasingly popular as a pet. In recent years, the life expectancy of these animals has increased, leading to the development of degenerative diseases such as neoplasms. This study aimed to survey the main neoplastic conditions affecting domestic rabbits treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Paraíba from January 2019 to April 2024. Histopathological data from biopsies and necropsies of lagomorphs treated by the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory (LPV) sector of the Veterinary Hospital were reviewed. Throughout the survey, a total of 27 patients were treated, all of which were domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). A total of 29 histopathological samples were analyzed. Of these samples, 6 neoplastic cases (40%) were diagnosed in 17 biopsies, while only 1 neoplastic case was diagnosed in 12 necropsies. Among the neoplastic cases, the majority were in female individuals (60%) and in adult animals (88.9%). The highest frequency of neoplastic diagnoses was for reproductive system neoplasms (62.5%), followed by cutaneous neoplasms (37.5%). The most common tumor was uterine adenocarcinoma associated with mammary tumors, followed by basal cell tumors, with one case of basal cell carcinoma and another of trichoblastoma. Despite information on pathologies in lagomorphs, knowledge of tumor lesions in these animals is still limited, indicating a need for further studies in the field.