Melanomas e carcinomas epidermoides em animais de companhia e sua importância no desenvolvimento de estudos para a saúde humana.

Abstract

Melanoma and non-melanoma skin neoplasms with a potential model of study for humans, diagnosed in dogs and cats in the backlands mesoregion, Northeastern Brazil, are described. For this purpose, a survey of biopsies and necropsies performed in dogs and cats at the Animal Pathology Laboratory of the Federal University of Campina, from January 2000 to December 2020, was carried out. The main epidemiological aspects, clinical changes and findings were identified. pathologies, in addition to the production of a systematic review. This research resulted in the production of three scientific articles. The first, to be submitted to the journal Research, Society and Development, a systematic review, which aimed to identify in the literature studies that offered guidance for the use of companion animals in the study of melanoma and non-melanoma skin neoplasms. Eleven papers published between 2016 and 2021 were included. Molecular/genetic studies identified similarities between the human and canine genome in the appearance of melanoma and also between dogs and cats in the appearance of SCC. The second article will be submitted to the journal Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP). A total of 81 cases of SCC in cats were identified in the Sertão mesoregion, Northeastern Brazil, between 2000 and 2020. The symptoms were nonspecific. Adult and elderly cats were more affected and it was observed that the coat was partially or totally white in all cases. The lesions had characteristic features of the disease and it is believed that the climatic conditions of the Sertão mesoregion were a risk factor for the emergence of this neoplasm in this species. The third article will be submitted to the journal Acta Scientiae Veterinariae (UFRGS. Impresso). 48 cases of canine melanoma are described, covering epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects. Animals of both sexes were affected, most of them without a defined breed. There was a statistical association in the age variable, where elderly dogs were 12.3 times more likely to develop melanoma than young animals and 4.8 times more likely than adult animals. The animals showed characteristic symptoms of the disease. It was possible to conclude with this dissertation that companion animals constitute an excellent study model for the understanding of these neoplasms in man, since they share a competent immune system and share the same environment, living with several conditioning factors for their development, with similar characteristics and shorter development time when compared to humans, which would enable studies to develop therapies and improve the existing ones, in a mutual way