Malignant Melanoma in a Free-Ranging Piebald Elk (Cervus canadensis) from Pennsylvania

Andreas S. Sergiou¹, Jeremiah E. Banfield², Holly M. Brown³, Corissa A. Steimling¹, Erin Luley^1,4, Arthur Hattel¹, Susan J. Bender⁵, and Justin D. Brown^1,*

¹Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802. ²Bureau of Wildlife Management, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Harrisburg, PA 17110. ³Metzger Animal Hospital, State College, PA 16801. ⁴Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, PA 17110. ⁵New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348. *Corresponding author.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 31, Issue 3 (2024): N17–N22

First published early online: 1 September 2024

Abstract
A free-ranging, adult, piebald Cervus canadensis (Elk) was found emaciated and moribund in Pennsylvania and was humanely dispatched due to poor prognosis. The cow had pigmented masses in the oropharyngeal cavity and lung that were cytologically and histopathologically diagnosed as melanoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an oropharyngeal melanoma in free-ranging Elk. The association between melanoma and piebaldism in cervids is not understood and requires further investigation.

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