Neoplasia and Tumor-Like Lesions in Pet Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): A Retrospective Analysis of Cases Between 1995 and 2019

Abstract

Prevalence and age distribution of tumors is largely unknown in pet rabbits. Currently available studies focused on specific organ systems or specific tumor types and never covered a comparative examination of all tumor types. Previous studies on laboratory rabbits suggested a low tumor prevalence but were mostly limited to young adult animals. In the present study, all tumor types and several tumor-like lesions of all organ systems were analyzed retrospectively in archived pet rabbit samples of all ages. Cases included necropsy cases ( n = 2,014) or postmortem tissue samples ( n = 102) as well as surgical biopsies ( n = 854). All lesions suspicious of neoplasia were reevaluated by histopathology and, when indicated, by immunohistochemistry. Necropsy cases had a tumor prevalence of 14.4% in both sexes or 19.8% in female intact rabbits of all age groups, and up to 47.2% or 66.7%, respectively, in rabbits older than 6 years. Overall, the most common tumor types were uterine adenocarcinoma (prevalence in female intact animals: 13.1%), lymphoma (prevalence: 2.8%), and thymoma (prevalence: 2.1%). Lymphoma, the most common tumor of rabbits ≤24 months of age, were of B-cell immunophenotype in 96% of cases and most commonly located in the lymph nodes (57%), gastrointestinal tract (54%), kidneys (48%), spleen (42%), and liver (41%). Tumors accounted for 81.1% of surgical biopsies and mostly comprised cutaneous, mammary, and uterine tumors. In conclusion, tumor types and prevalence varied significantly with respect to age, revealing some differences from previous studies on laboratory rabbits.

Das geriatrische Kaninchen

“…Mit zunehmendem Alter steigt die Tumorprävalenz bei Heimtierkaninchen signifikant an. Tumorerkrankungen können alle Organsysteme betreffen und die Mehrzahl der Tumore sind maligne 2 .…”

“…Ab einem Alter von 6 Jahren steigt bei weiblich intakten Kaninchen die Tumorprävalenz auf über 66% an. Die Mehrzahl der Neoplasien sind hochmaligne uterine Adenokarzinome 2 , 3 . Es wird vermutet, dass die Adenokarzinome aus den ebenfalls sehr häufig vorkommenden endometrialen Hyperplasien aufgrund anhaltender hormoneller Stimuli (asaisonaler Fortpflanzungszyklus) entstehen 4 , 5 .…”

“…Bei älteren Patienten kommen besonders häufig Trichoblastome, Weichteilsarkome, Lipome, Melanome und Adenome der Meibom-Drüsen (überwiegend bei männlichen Tieren) vor. Mammatumoren gehören ebenfalls zu den Hautneoplasien und treten sehr oft in Kombination mit Uteruspathologien auf 2 , 10 . Die häufigsten Veränderungen der Mamma sind einfache Adenokarzinome (46%) sowie intraduktale papilläre Adenome (19,3%).…”

“…Die häufigsten Veränderungen der Mamma sind einfache Adenokarzinome (46%) sowie intraduktale papilläre Adenome (19,3%). Eine Metastasierung in Lunge, Leber, regionale Lymphknoten sowie Milz ist möglich und konnte in mehr als 40% der Fälle nachgewiesen werden 2 .…”

Type A thymoma in a pet rabbit

“…Bertram, 2021 Sept 1). 1 Additionally, thymomas were more common in rabbits > 6-y-old, with a prevalence of 9.4%, and prevalence was higher in neutered male and female rabbits than in intact rabbits. 1…”