Spontaneous tumours in captive African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris): aretrospective study

Forty tumours were diagnosed in 35 (53%) of 66 captive African hedgehogs do cumented at Northwest ZooPath (NZP) between 1994 and 1999. Three hedgehogs had more than one type tumour and the remaining 32 had a single type. Of th e 35 hedgehogs with tumours, 14 were female, 11 were male, and 10 were of u nknown gender; 21 were from zoological parks and 14 were privately owned. T wenty of the hedgehogs with tumours were adult (>1 year old) with a median age of 3.5 years (range 2-5.5 years); 15, of unreported age, were classifie d as adult. Thirty-four (85 %) of the 40 tumours were classified as maligna nt and six (15%) as benign. The integumentary, haemolymphactic, digestive a nd endocrine systems were common sites for tumours. The must common tumours were mammary gland adenocarcinoma, lymphosarcoma and oral squamous cell ca rcinoma. (C) 2001 Harcourt Pulishers Ltd.