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Case Reports
. 2025 Apr;36(2):218-221.
doi: 10.1111/vde.13318. Epub 2024 Dec 26.

Cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma in a sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)

Piercarlo Amati  1 , Carla Dedola  2 , Roberta Demontis  2 , Chiara Brachelente  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma in a sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)

Piercarlo Amati et al. Vet Dermatol. 2025 Apr.

Abstract
in English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish

A 3-year-old male sugar glider presented with pruritus and alopecia primarily affecting the back and neck regions. Dermatologic diagnostics ruled out common causes. Skin biopsies revealed cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma, a rare condition in sugar gliders. Despite treatment, the glider's condition worsened, leading to death. This case highlights the importance of thorough diagnostic evaluation in exotic pets.

一只3岁雄性蜜袋鼯出现瘙痒和脱毛症状，主要影响背部和颈部。皮肤病学诊断排除了常见病因。皮肤活检显示患有皮肤趋上皮性T细胞淋巴瘤，这是蜜袋鼯的一种罕见疾病。尽管接受了治疗，蜜袋鼯的病情仍恶化，导致死亡。该病例凸显了对异宠进行彻底诊断评估的重要性。.

Un sugar glider mâle de 3 ans s'est présenté avec un prurit et une alopécie affectant principalement les régions du dos et du cou. Les diagnostics dermatologiques ont exclu les causes courantes. Les biopsies cutanées ont révélé un lymphome cutané épithéliotrope à cellules T, une maladie rare chez les sugar gliders. Malgré le traitement, l'état du sugar glider s'est aggravé, entraînant sa mort. Ce cas souligne l'importance d'une évaluation diagnostique approfondie chez les animaux de compagnie exotiques.

Ein Kurzkopfgleitbeutler wurde mit Juckreiz und Alopezie vorgestellt, welche in erster Linie den Rücken und die Halsgegenden betraf. Mittels dermatologischer diagnostischer Methoden wurden häufige Ursachen ausgeschlossen. Die Hautbiopsien zeigten ein kutanes epitheliotropes T‐Zell Lymphom, eine seltene Hauterkrankung des Kurzkopfgleitbeutlers. Trotz Behandlung verschlechterte sich der Zustand und führte schließlich zum Tod. Dieser Fall hebt die Wichtigkeit einer genauen diagnostischen Evaluierung exotischer Haustiere hervor.

3歳の雄のフクロモモンガが、主に背部および頸部に掻痒および脱毛を呈した。皮膚科的診断では一般的な原因は除外された。皮膚生検の結果、皮膚上皮向性T細胞性リンパ腫が発見された。治療にもかかわらず、フクロモモンガの状態は悪化し、斃死した。この症例は、エキゾチックペットにおける徹底的な診断評価の重要性を強調している。.

Um petauro‐do‐açúcar macho de 3 anos apresentou prurido e alopecia afetando principalmente as regiões das costas e do pescoço. Diagnósticos dermatológicos descartaram causas comuns. Biópsias de pele revelaram linfoma cutâneo epiteliotrópico de células T, uma condição rara em petauros‐do‐açúcar. Apesar do tratamento, a condição do animal piorou, levando ao óbito. Este caso destaca a importância de uma avaliação diagnóstica completa em animais de estimação exóticos.

Un petauro del azúcar macho de 3 años de edad presentó prurito y alopecia que afectaban principalmente las regiones de la espalda y el cuello. Los diagnósticos dermatológicos descartaron causas comunes. Las biopsias de piel revelaron un linfoma cutáneo de células T epiteliotrópicas, una enfermedad poco frecuente en los petauros del azúcar. A pesar del tratamiento, la condición del petauro empeoró y provocó su muerte. Este caso destaca la importancia de una evaluación diagnóstica exhaustiva en las mascotas exóticas.

Keywords: T‐cell lymphoma; epitheliotropism; skin; sugar glider (Petaurus braviceps).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding this research.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
(a) Sugar glider presented for dermatological consultation. (b and c) Alopecia, scaling, erythema and erosions observed on the back, of the case animal.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Imprint cytological results from an erosive lesion revealed a monomorphous population of small‐ to medium‐sized lymphocytes, suggesting a neoplastic process. The cells exhibit round nuclei with prominent nucleoli and scant, basophilic cytoplasm (black arrows). Scattered macrophages (*) and fibroblasts are admixed with the round cells (May–Grünwald Giemsa, ×40).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
(a) Histological examination of the punch biopsy. Neoplastic cells infiltrate the epidermis multifocally, obscuring the dermo‐epidermal junction and forming clusters of intraepithelial neoplastic lymphocytes surrounded by clear space (Pautrier's microabscesses). Haematoxylin and eosin, ×20. (b,c) Immunohistochemical staining for (b) CD3 demonstrating positive reactivity of intraepithelial neoplastic lymphocytes and (c) CD20 showing no reactivity in the intraepithelial neoplastic lymphocytes. ×40.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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