Cutaneous epitheliotropic t-cell lymphoma with systemic spread in a guinea pig (cavia porcellus)

A 5-year-old female guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was presented with a history of decreased appetite, nonpruritic alopecia, erythema, severe epithelial scaling, and thickening of the skin of the front and rear limbs and the ventral region. Hematology analysis revealed a severe leukocytosis with lymphocytosis. Because of the deterioration of the animal, it was humanely euthanatized and submitted for necropsy. Histopathologic examination and CD-3 immunohistochemistry revealed an epitheliotropic T-cell cutaneous lymphoma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma in a guinea pig. Cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma should be considered in the differential disease diagnosis list if a guinea pig presents with alopecia, erythema, and severe scaling of the epithelium. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.