Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Free-Ranging Three-Toed Sloth (Bradypus variegatus)

Abstract

The increasing interest of tumors in wildlife is important for biodiversity conservation and for monitoring environmental agents and/or contaminants with potential impact on human health. Here we described the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in noncirrhotic liver of a free-ranging three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) from the Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil. The HCC showed a moderate mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate within the tumor tissue but with no inflammation and fibrosis in the adjacent liver tissue. Upon immunohistochemistry, neoplastic cells were diffusely positive for HepPar-1 and glutamine-synthetase presenting an irregular and random immunostaining pattern; β-catenin was positive in the cytoplasmic membrane of malignant hepatocytes; and cytokeratin 19 immunostaining was restricted to bile duct epithelial cells. The liver tissue was negative for HBV-like and HCV-like viruses assessed by molecular tests. The potential similarity of pathogenesis may reinforce the need for research on environmental and/or infectious agents associated with HCC that may contribute to the understanding of cancer in wildlife.