ABSTRACT

An adult male tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, of unknown age presented with an expanding mass on the dorsum. The mass was surgically removed, and the wound was allowed to heal by second intention. The granulating area was kept protected by a Nexaband bandage, which was reapplied approximately every seven days. The resected mass was examined histopathologically and was interpreted as a soft tissue sarcoma. In addition, a peripheral blood smear taken at the time of surgery revealed a marked eosinophilia with a shift towards immaturity, consistent with an eosinophilic leukemia, or a marked reactive eosinophilia such as that seen in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. The animal recovered well from the surgery and by two months, post-operatively the wound had completely healed. However, tumor recurrence was evident, and by six months after the surgery the tumor had regrown to its original size. Eight months post-operatively the salamander was euthaninized due to copious hemorrhage from the ulcerated tumor. Spontaneous neoplasms have been reported in all major organ systems in both anuran and urodele amphibians, but with less frequency in the urodeles. Tumors of the integument are well represented, but neoplasia of the hematopoietic cells are rare. The possible presence of two different tumors would be unusual, indicating possible exposure to carcinogens. Concurrence of certain skin tumors and chronic myelogenous leukemia has been reported in humans, as well as occasional association of malignant neoplasias with eosinophilia. Surgery was well tolerated by the salamander, and the wound healed well by second intention. This case report illustrates that with knowledge of amphibian anatomy and physiology, tumors can be managed in these animals.