Spontaneous neoplasms in captive African cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus temminck, 1827)

Despite the increasing importance of cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) far ming in Africa, diseases of these animals in captivity are not well known. A survey of a colony in Gabon averaging 235 cane rats over a period of 36 m onths allowed the observation of several suspected tumors and the confirmat ion of three cases of neoplasms. Within a period of 8 months, a chondroma i n an adult female, a hemangiosarcoma in a subadult male, and a chondrosarco ma in an elderly female were diagnosed. This incidence (1.3%) of neoplasms in the cane rat colony in such a short period is uncommon. Neoplasms in rod ents might be induced by such factors as a high inbreeding coefficient, an oncogenic virus, or chemical agent intoxication. Although the etiology rema ins undetermined, these cases are described to provide baseline data on the pathology of this species in captivity.