A Retrospective Survey of Neoplasia in Managed Giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis)

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (atypical fibroxanthoma‐subtype) in a 4‐year‐old Rothschild's giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)

“…The only other reported mesenchymal skin neoplasm in a giraffe is a fibrosarcoma. 3 Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma has been reported in a 3-year-old, male Rothschild's giraffe with metastasis to the lymph nodes and lung. 15 In cell studies on mouse models, it has been reported that there is a link between embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma development and UPS.…”

“…A recent study looking at the prevalence of neoplasms in captive giraffe in American zoological institutions revealed that a total of 30 giraffes had been diagnosed with a neoplastic lesion, with the most common lesions being mesenchymal in origin, with the most prevalent location of all tumours being the female reproductive tract. 3 Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPSs) are generally rare neoplasms of debatable oncogenic cell lineage, due to their undifferentiated and unclassifiable histomorphological appearances. Originally, the terms benign and malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH) were used to refer to such tumours of uncertain differentiation and origin, due to the variable combinations of spindled fibroblast-like cells, vacuolated histiocyte-like cells, plus variable numbers of pleomorphic multinucleated giant cells with atypical nuclear forms supported by collagenous fibrovascular stroma, and as such it was previously believed that these tumours were of monocyte-macrophage lineages with inherent abilities to act as facultative fibroblasts.…”

“…Neoplasia is rarely reported in captive giraffe in the scientific literature. A recent study looking at the prevalence of neoplasms in captive giraffe in American zoological institutions revealed that a total of 30 giraffes had been diagnosed with a neoplastic lesion, with the most common lesions being mesenchymal in origin, with the most prevalent location of all tumours being the female reproductive tract 3 …”

Congenital and Neoplastic Cranial Deformities in Wild Giraffe (Giraffa spp.)

“…The true prevalence of neoplasia in wildlife is unknown because of understudying and reporting, but neoplasms have been observed in ungulates (Williams et al 1989; Foreyt et al 1991; Madsen et al 2017; Jones et al 2018; Pesavento et al 2018). Current knowledge on the occurrence of neoplasia in giraffe is from zoo populations, where it has rarely been reported and has usually involved the reproductive tract (Jones et al 2018; Doden et al 2021). The few reported cases associated with the head have included oral and nasal lesions of squamous cell carcinoma, oral lesions of ameloblastic fibroma, a rhabdomyosarcoma of head musculature, and a complex odontoma of the rostral mandible (Bohner et al 2021; Doden et al 2021).…”

“…Current knowledge on the occurrence of neoplasia in giraffe is from zoo populations, where it has rarely been reported and has usually involved the reproductive tract (Jones et al 2018; Doden et al 2021). The few reported cases associated with the head have included oral and nasal lesions of squamous cell carcinoma, oral lesions of ameloblastic fibroma, a rhabdomyosarcoma of head musculature, and a complex odontoma of the rostral mandible (Bohner et al 2021; Doden et al 2021). In wild giraffe, two reported cases of severe multiple papillomatosis associated with papillomavirus in southern giraffe ( Giraffa giraffa ) included involvement of skin of the head and neck (van Dyk et al 2011).…”