Neoplasia in Snakes at Zoo Atlanta During 1992–2012

Abstract

A retrospective study was conducted to review neoplasia of captive snakes in the Zoo Atlanta collection from 1992 to 2012. Of 255 snakes that underwent necropsy and histopathologic examination at Zoo Atlanta during the study period, 37 were observed with neoplasia at necropsy. In those 37 snakes, 42 neoplastic lesions of 18 primary cell types were diagnosed. Thirty-five of those neoplasms (83.3%) were malignant, and of those, 19 were of mesenchymal origin, whereas 14 were of epithelial origin. The median annual rate of neoplasia at necropsy was 12.5% (interquartile range = 2.8-19.5%) over the 21-yr study period. The mean estimated age at death for snakes with neoplasia was 13.2 yr (range, 1-24 yr). Investigating the incidence and clinical significance of neoplasia in captive snakes is vital for developing effective preventative and treatment regimes.

A comprehensive diagnostic approach combining phylogenetic disease bracketing and CT imaging reveals osteomyelitis in a Tyrannosaurus rex

“…The skeletal tumours that have been identified are the following: osteoma, ameloblastoma, ossified fibroma, osteosarcoma, osteochondroma and chondrosarcoma 40,41,55,77,80 . Studies have shown malignant entities to be dominant among neoplasms in NARs, at approximately 80% of all diagnosed neoplasms (83.3% in Page-Karjian et al, 76% in Ramsay et al) 81,82 . As osteomas generally appear in long bones 79 and osteochondromas are defined by articular proximity, these two benign bone tumours are potential differential diagnoses for the lesion of the left fibula and fused vertebrae, respectively.…”

The occurrence of cancer in vertebrates: a mini review

“…Common chimpanzee [11,48] Pan paniscus Bonobo [11,48] Pongo pygmaeus Bornean orangutan [13,47,48] Gorilla gorilla Gorilla [36,48] Gorilla beringei Eastern gorilla [4] Cercopithecidae Chlorocebus aethiops sobaeus Green monkey [14] Cercocebus atys Sooty mangabey [47] Trachypithecus obscurus Dusky leaf monkey [47] Macaca mulatta Macaque [48][49][50] Macaca fascicularis Long-tailed macaque [47,50] Macaca fuscata Japanese macaque [47] Macaca arctoides Stump-tailed macaque [47] Macaca maura Moor macaque [47] Macaca sinica Ara ararauna Blue-yellow macaw [18] Ara chloropterus Red-green macaw [18] Aves Psittaciformes Psittacidae Psittacus erithacus Grey parrot [18] Agapornis sp. Lovebird [18] Aratinga solstitialis Sun conure [18] Aratinga nenday Nanday conure [18] Forpus coelestris Pacific parrotlet [18] Brotogeris pyrrhoptera Grey-cheeked parakeet [18] Cacatuidae Nymphicus hollandicus Cockatiel [18] Cacatua moluccensis Moluccan cockatoo [18] Psittaculidae Trichoglossus moluccanus Rainbow lorikeet [18] Melopsittacus undulatus Budgerigar [18,59] Eclectus roratus Eclectus parrot [18] Psittacula krameri Rose-ringed parakeet [ Bitis nasicornis Rhinoceros viper [20] Bitis gabonica rhinoceros West African gaboon viper [20] Bothrops alternatus Urutu [66] Sistrurus ...…”

“…Lovebird [18] Aratinga solstitialis Sun conure [18] Aratinga nenday Nanday conure [18] Forpus coelestris Pacific parrotlet [18] Brotogeris pyrrhoptera Grey-cheeked parakeet [18] Cacatuidae Nymphicus hollandicus Cockatiel [18] Cacatua moluccensis Moluccan cockatoo [18] Psittaculidae Trichoglossus moluccanus Rainbow lorikeet [18] Melopsittacus undulatus Budgerigar [18,59] Eclectus roratus Eclectus parrot [18] Psittacula krameri Rose-ringed parakeet [ Bitis nasicornis Rhinoceros viper [20] Bitis gabonica rhinoceros West African gaboon viper [20] Bothrops alternatus Urutu [66] Sistrurus miliarius miliarius Pygmy rattlesnake [20] Crotalus horridus Timber rattlesnake [66] Crotalus adamanteus Eastern diamondback rattlesnake [20] Crotalus lepidus Rock rattlesnake [20] Crotalus atrox Western diamondback rattlesnake [66] Crotalus scutulatus Mojave rattlesnake [66] Crotalus simus Yucatan neotropical rattlesnake [66] Reptilia Squamata Viperidae Antheris sp. Bush viper [66] Bothriechis lateralis Side-striped viper [66] Agkistrodon piscivorus Cottonmouth [20,66] Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus Broad-banded copperhead [66] Agkistrodon contortrix Copperhead [66] Colubridae…”

“…Corn snake [20,21,66] Elaphe (Pantherophis) obsoleta Black rat snake [20,66] Pantherophis bairdi Baird's ratsnake [20] Pituophis melanoleucus Pine snake [20,66] Pituophis deppei Mexican bull snake [20] Pituophis catenifer sayi Bull snake [20] Coluber constrictor Black racer [20,66] Lampropeltis elapsoides Scarlet kingsnake [20,66] Lampropeltis calligaster Yellow-bellied kingsnake [66] Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Lampropeltis getula Kingsnake [19][20][21] Heterodon kennerlyi Mexican hognose snake [66] Heterodon platirhinos Eastern hognose snake [20] Drymarchon couperi Eastern indigo snake [66] Thamnophis sauritus Ribbon snake [21] Thamnophis radix Plains garter snake [20] Thamnophis sirtalis Common garter snake [21] Clelia clelia Mussurana [20] Gonyosoma oxycephalum Arboreal ratsnake [20] Natrix natrix Grass snake [21] Boidae Boa constrictor Common boa [21] Corallus hortulanus Amazon tree boa [66] Eunectes murinus Common anaconda [19] Eunectes notaeus Yellow anaconda [20] Reptilia Squamata Boidae Epicrates cenchria Rainbow boa [20] Epicrates chrysogaster Turks island boa [20] Candoia bibroni Pacific tree boa [20] Lichanura trivirgata Rosy boa [20] Chilabothrus subflavus Jamaican boa [21] Elapidae Pseudechis australis King brown snake [66] Aspidelaps scutatus Shield-nosed cobra [66] Dendroaspis polylepis ...…”

The Use of Self-Inflating Hygroscopic Tissue Expanders to Facilitate Osteosarcoma Removal in a Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus)

“…Primary skeletal neoplasms such as fibrosarcoma and chondrosarcoma are prevalent in snakes [ 42 , 43 ]. However, osteosarcomas were diagnosed in only three of 325 snakes with neoplasia submitted to a specialty diagnostic service and are infrequently reported in the literature [ 42 , 44 – 46 ]. Osteosarcomas in snakes typically arise from vertebrae and ribs, rarely from extraskeletal sites [ 42 , 44 , 47 ].…”