OVARIAN ADENOCARCINOMA IN CAPTIVE NORTH AMERICAN JAGUARS (Panthera onca): TUMOR CHARACTERIZATION AND INVESTIGATION OF BRCA1 MUTATIONS

High numbers of ovarian adenocarcinomas have been documented in captive jaguars, which are rare in other felids.1,4 Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues from 55 captive, female jaguars between 1988-2014 were collected. Twenty-three jaguars (40%) had ovarian carcinoma (five with bilateral tumors), 14 had mammary carcinoma, and of these, five had both ovarian and mammary
carcinoma. No association has been found between ovarian cancer and the use of exogenous progestins in zoo felids, and in these cases, only nine of 23 animals with ovarian adenocarcinoma had a history of exogenous progestin exposure.2,5 An inherited germline mutation is suspected, and candidate genes include those involved in the carcinogenesis of human ovarian and breast cancer, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.3 These tumors most often occur in middle-aged, post-reproductive jaguars, though a homozygous germline mutation in BRCA1 could lead to embryonic lethality, impairing captive breeding. To further investigate the role of BRCA1 in tumorigenesis, jaguar genomic DNA was first extracted from whole blood. Primers were designed using the domestic
cat BRCA1 genomic DNA sequence. Jaguar and domestic cat genomic DNA was amplified using PCR and Sanger sequencing. Multiple variations in the jaguar BRCA1 sequence were detected, including five nonsynonymous point mutations and one three base pair insertion. Any association between these sequence variations and tumor development or phenotype, as well as other candidate
genes are being investigated. Knowledge of risk factors for the development of ovarian carcinoma in jaguars will assist with the medical management and breeding recommendations of this endangered species in captivity.