Sarcoids in two captive tapirs (Tapirus bairdii): clinical, pathological and molecular study

Abstract

This case report describes for the first time sarcoids in tapirs (Tapirus bairdii), namely, a 2-year-old male and a 3.6-year-old female born and housed at the same facility. The male presented with a 3-cm nodular, red, pedunculated, hairless, ulcerated mass on the inner surface of the left pinna. No recurrence or additional growths were present during the 3 years following surgical excision of the mass. The female presented with a similar 2-cm mass on the inner surface of the right pinna, which recurred 2 months following surgical excision, but was subsequently successfully treated locally with liquid nitrogen with no further recurrence during a 2-year follow-up period. Histologically, these two masses closely resembled equine sarcoids. Similarly, an association with bovine papillomavirus 1 was demonstrated using polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization.