Epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma in a Javan silvered leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus auratus) and attempted treatment with masitinib

Abstract

A 14‐month‐old, female Javan silvered leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus auratus) was presented for inguinal circular, erythematous, crusty dermatitis. The animal was bright and alert, and appetite was good. Lesions progressed to the whole abdomen and became ulcerative. Skin biopsies revealed a cutaneous lymphoma and no metastases were detected on computed tomography scan. Anti‐tumoral treatment was attempted with masitinib (50 mg orally every 48 hours), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In the absence of improvement of the lesions, as treatment was well tolerated, masitinib dose was increased to 50 mg orally once a day. Effect on the lesions was minimal, clinical condition worsened and the animal died 9 months after initial presentation. Postmortem examination and histopathology confirmed multicentric epitheliotropic CD3+ cutaneous lymphoma. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of cutaneous lymphoma in a langur, and the first attempt of treatment with masitinib in a non‐human primate species. Despite poor response, masitinib treatment appeared safe.