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

Forty tumours were diagnosed in 35 (53%) of 66 captive African hedgehogs documented 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 the 35 hedgehogs with tumours, 14 were female, 11 were male, and 10 were of unknown gender; 21 were from zoological parks and 14 were privately owned. Twenty 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 classified as adult. Thirty-four (85 %) of the 40 tumours were classified as malignant and six (15%) as benign. The integumentary, haemolymphactic, digestive and endocrine systems were common sites for tumours. The must common tumours were mammary gland adenocarcinoma, lymphosarcoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma. (C) 2001 Harcourt Pulishers Ltd.