Histiocytic Sarcoma in a Captive Hybrid Orangutan (Pongo sp.): Morphological and Immunohistochemical Features

Animals (Basel). 2024 Mar 10;14(6):852. doi: 10.3390/ani14060852.

Abstract

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS), an infrequent highly aggressive hematopoietic tumor, has been observed in diverse animal species, with isolated occurrences in non-human primates. This study describes the first case of disseminated HS in a 45-year-old female hybrid captive orangutan. The clinical profile mirrored symptoms seen in human HS cases, encompassing anorexia and ascites. Detailed histopathological examination demonstrated characteristic features of this tumor and immunohistochemistry, using markers such as Iba-1 and HLA-DR, confirmed the diagnosis. Significantly, the absence of CD163 and CD204 expression challenges their diagnostic utility in non-human primates. This investigation enhances our understanding of HS diagnosis in non-human primates, underscoring the necessity for standardized markers and diagnostic protocols.

Keywords: histiocytic sarcoma (HS); immunohistochemistry; neoplasia; non-human primates (NHPs); orangutan.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, grant number RC IZSLT 04/2021.