| Titre : | Comparative oncology of large felids and elephants : Epidemiology, pathology, and molecular mechanisms of neoplastic diseases across wild and captive populations |
| Auteurs : | Hibaterrahmane Mechouma, Auteur ; M’hamed Oumouna, Directeur de thèse |
| Type de document : | texte imprimé |
| Editeur : | Alger : École Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire, 2026 |
| Format : | 84 f. / ill. / 30 cm |
| Accompagnement : | CD-Rom |
| Note générale : |
Mémoire de Master: Sciences Vétérinaire: Alger, École Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire: 2026
Bibliogr., f. 86-89 |
| Langues : | Anglais |
| Mots-clés : | Comparative oncology ; Large felids ; Elephants ; Neoplasia ; Histopathology ; Cancer resistance ; TP53 ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Fibrosarcoma ; Wildlife pathology |
| Résumé : |
occurrence and behavior vary remarkably across the animal kingdom. Among mammals, large
felids and elephants represent two contrasting models of neoplastic disease. While captive felids frequently develop aggressive malignant tumors associated with significant morbidity and mortality, elephants appear to exhibit an unexpected resistance to malignant transformation despite their exceptional body size and longevity. This paradox places both taxa at the center of contemporary comparative oncology research. The present study aimed to investigate neoplastic diseases in captive large felids and elephants through an integrated approach combining comparative literature analysis and histopathological examination. The literature review explored epidemiological trends, pathological characteristics, and molecular mechanisms underlying tumor development in these species, with particular emphasis on differences in cancer susceptibility and biological behavior. Special attention was given to the role of tumor suppressor pathways and evolutionary adaptations that may contribute to the unique oncological profile observed in elephants. The practical component of the study involved the histopathological evaluation of tissue samples collected during necropsies performed on captive animals from the National Zoological Park of Ben Aknoun (Algiers, Algeria). A diverse spectrum of lesions was identified, including chronic endometrial hyperplasia and papillary bronchial adenoma in a panther, metastatic leiomyosarcoma in a puma, fibrosarcoma in an African lion, and a benign uterine fibroma associated with chronic uterine pathology in an elephant. Microscopic examination revealed marked differences in cellular atypia, invasiveness, metastatic potential, and biological behavior between the lesions observed in felids and those identified in elephants. Comparative analysis demonstrated that large felids are predominantly affected by aggressive multisystemic malignancies, whereas elephants are more commonly affected by benign reproductive tract tumors with limited invasive potential. These findings reinforce the hypothesis that fundamental species-specific mechanisms influence not only tumor initiation but also tumor progression and malignancy. Beyond documenting pathological lesions, this work highlights the importance of wildlife species as natural models for understanding cancer biology. The striking contrast between the oncological profiles of large felids and elephants provides valuable insight into the evolutionary dynamics of cancer susceptibility and resistance. Ultimately, comparative oncology offers a unique bridge between wildlife conservation, veterinary pathology, and human medicine, contributing to a deeper understanding of one of biology’s most complex diseases. |
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