Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Published:

Equine Sarcoids. A Clinical and Epidemiological Study in Relation to Equine Leucocyte Antigens (ELA)

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 36, pages 223–236 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Associations between clinical parameters of sarcoids and the equine leucocyte antigen system (ELA) were analysed for 120 Swedish horses. Median age of affected horses was 5.2 years, and the majority presented with solitary tumors between 2 and 5 cm in diameter and ventral abdomen was a predilection site. Clinical signs first appeared at a median age of 3.5 years, and sarcoids at different locations first appeared at different ages. Lesions at different sites differed in size, and multiple tumors, early onset, long duration, and older age all had an association with large size. Clinical manifestations of sarcoids and the association between certain ELA-specificities and early onset (A5) and increased recurrence rates after surgery (W13), in addition to increased prevalence (A3W13), strengthen further that some horses are inherently predisposed to sarcoid growth. Unassociated with any clinical parameters, one third of the untreated horses became free of sarcoids due to “spontaneous” regression, perhaps as a result of immune responses against the tumors. Seventy percent of the horses were treated (mostly by excision), and large size was the main parameter promoting treatment. Excision had no significant effect on possibly remaining sarcoids. Recurrence rate after first treatment was about 35%, with the majority of tumors recurring within 4 months. Early onset, long duration, large size, and localization to distal limbs all appeared to increase risk of recurrence. Early treatment, performed under general anesthesia in recumbency which permits wide excision and measures to avoid autoinoculation, significantly reduced recurrence rates.

References

  • Angelos J, Oppenheim Y, Rebhun W, Mohammed H, Antczak DF: Evaluation of breed as a risk factor for sarcoid and uveitis in horses. Anim. Genet. 1988, 19, (417–425).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baker JR, Leyland A: Histological survey of tumours of the horse, with particular reference to those of the skin. Vet. Rec. 1975, 96, (243–249).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bastianello SS: A survey on neoplasia in domestic species over a 40-year period from 1935 to 1974 in the Republic of South Africa IV. Ilimours occurring in Equidae. Onderstepoort J. vet. Res. 1983, 59, (91–96).

    Google Scholar 

  • Broström H, Bredberg-Ràdén U, England JJ, Obel N, Perlmann P: Cell-mediated immunity in horses with sarcoid tumors against sarcoid cells in vitro. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1979, 40, (1701–1706).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Broström H, Fahlbrink E, Dubath M-L, Lazary S: Association between equine leucocyte antigens (ELA) and equine sarcoid tumors in the population of Swedish halfbreds and some of their families. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 1988, 19, (215–223).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheevers WP, Fatemi-Nainie S, Anderson LW: Spontaneous expression of an endogenous retrovirus by the equine sarcoid-derived Mc-1 cell line. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1986, 47, (50–52).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cotchin E: A general survey of tumours in the horse. Equine Vet. J. 1977, 9, (16–21).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cotchin E, Baker-Smith J: Tumours in horses encountered in an abbatoir survey. Vet. Rec. 1975, 97, (339).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diehl M, Vingerhoets M, Stornetta D: Spezifische Methoden zur Ernfernung des Equinen Sar-kodes (Specific methods for removing equine sarcoids). Prakt. Tierazt 1988, 69, (14–17).

    Google Scholar 

  • England JJ, Watson RE, Larson KA: Virus-like particles in an equine sarcoid cell line. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1973, 34, (1601–1603).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fretz PB, Barber SM: Prospective analysis of cryosurgery as the sole treatment for equine sarcoids. Vet.Clin. North Amer/Small Anim.Pract. 1980, 10, (847–859).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivascu I, Muresan GSE, Pápay Z: Clinical and pathological observations on 5 cases of equine sarcoidosis in Romania. Zbl. Vet. Med. 1974, 21, (815–823).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson C: The incidence and pathology of tumours of domestic animals in South Africa. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Sei. Anim. Ind. 1936, 6, 241–248; 375-385; 429.

    Google Scholar 

  • James VS: A family tendency to equine sarcoids. S. West Vet. 1968, 27, (235–236).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kersjes AW, Ruitenberg EJ: Equine sarcoid: BCG immunotherapy compared to cryosurgery in a prospective randomized clinical trial. Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 1986, 27, (133–140).

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein WR, Goosen EB, Misdorp W, Steerenberg PA, de Jong WH, Tiesjema RH, Lane JG: The treatment of equine sarcoids by cryosurgery. Equine Vet. J. 1977, 9, (127–133).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knottenbelt DC, Walker JA: Topical treatment of the equine sarcoid. Equine vet. Educ. 1994, 6, (72–75).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laursen BA: Behandling af equine sarcoider med kryokirurgi (Cryosurgery as treatment of equine sarcoids). Dansk Vet. Tidskr. 1987, 70, (97–104).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazary S, Antczak DF, Bailey E, Bell TK, Bernoco D, Byrns G, McClure JJ: Joint report of the fifth international workshop on lymphocyte alloantigens of the horse, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 31 October-lNovember 1987. Anim. Gen. 1988, 79, (447–456).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazary S, Gerber H, Glatt PA, Straub R: Equine leucocyte antigens in sarcoid-affected horses. Equine vet. J. 1985, 77, (283–286).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lory S, Tscharner C, Marti E, Bestetti G, Grimm S, Waldvogel A: In situ hybridization of equine sarcoids with bovine papilloma virus. Vet Rec 1993, 132, (132–133).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Madewell BR, Theilen GH: Skin tumors of mesenchymal origin. In: Theilen GH, Madewell BR (Eds). Veterinary Cancer Medicine, (2nd ed). Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1987, pp. 282–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marti E, Lazary S, Antczak DF, Gerber H: Report of the first international workshop on equine sarcoid. Equine vet. J. 1993, 25, (397–407).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meridith D, Elser AH, Wolf B, Soma LR, Donawick WJ, Lazary S: Equine leucocyte antigens: Relationships with sarcoid tumors and laminitis in 2 pure breeds. Immunogen. 1986, 23, (221–225).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller R, Campbell RSF: A survey of granulomatous and neoplastic diseases of equine skin in north Queensland. Austr. vet. J. 1982, 59, (33–37).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed HO, Rebhun WC, Antczak DF: Factors associated with the risk of developing sarcoid tumours in horses. Equine vet. J. 1992, 24, (165–168).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Onion D: Tumor immunology. In: Theilen GH, Madewell BR (eds): Veterinary Cancer Medicine, 2nd ed. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1987, pp. 105–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otten N, Tscharner C, Lazary S, Antczak DF, Gerber H: DNA of bovine papilloma virus type 1 and 2 in equine sarcoids: PCR detection and direct sequencing. Arch. Virol. 1993, 132, (121–131).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pascoe RR: The nature of skin conditions observed in horses in Queensland. Austr. vet. J. 1973, 49, (35–40).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pascoe RR: A Colour Atlas of Equine Dermatology. Wolfe Publishing Limited, London, 1990, pp. 75–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragland WL, Keown GH, Gorham JR: An epizootic of equine sarcoid. Nature, 1966, 210, 1399.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ragland WL, Keown GH, Spencer GR: Equine sarcoid. Equine vet. J. 1970, 2, (2–11).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raphel CF: Diseases of the equine eyelid. Comp. Cont. Educ. 1982, 4, (14–21).

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid SWJ, Gettinby G, Fowler JN, Ikin P: Epidemiological observations on sarcoids in a population of donkeys (Equus asinus). Vet. Rec. 1994, 134, (207–211).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts WD: Experimental treatment of equine sarcoid. Vet. Med/small Anim. Clin. 1970, 65, (67–73).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartzmann SM, Cantrell JL, Ribi ER, Ward J: Immunotherapy of equine sarcoid with cell wall skeleton (CWS)-threhalose dimycolate (TDM) biologic. Equine Pract. 1984, 6, (13–23).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stannard AA, Pulley LD: Tumors of the skin and soft tissues. In Moulton JE (Ed). Tumors in domestic animals, 2nd ed. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1978, pp. 16–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundberg JP, Burnstein T, Page EH, Kirkham WW, Robinson FR: Neoplasms of equidae. J. Amer, vet. med. Assoc. 1977, 170, (150–152).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tallberg TH, Kinnunen RE, Palkama A, Saario EMK, Borgström G: Equine sarcoid successfully treated by Bio-Immunotherapy. Dtsch. Zschr. Onkol. 1994, 26, (34–40).

    Google Scholar 

  • Theon AP, Pascoe JR, Carlson GP, Krag DN: Intratumoral chemotherapy with cisplatin in oily emulsions in horses. J. Amer. vet. med. Assoc. 1993, 262, (261–267).

    Google Scholar 

  • Turrel JM, Stover SM, Gyorgfalvy J: Iridium-192 interstitial brachytherapy of equine sarcoid. Vet. Radiol. 1985, 26, (20–24).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voss JL: Transmission of equine sarcoid. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1969, 56, (183–191).

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson RE, Larson KA: Detection of tumor-specific antigens in an equine sarcoid cell line. Infect, and Immun. 1974, 9, (714–718).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcock BP: Neoplastic diseases of skin and mammary gland. In: Jubb KVF, Kennel PC, Palmer N (eds): Pathology of domestic animals, (4th ed.). Academic Press Inc., San Diego, 1993, pp. 706–729.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I want to thank Drs. Peter Perlmann, Marita Troye-Blomberg and Àke Larsson at the Department of Immunology, University of Stockholm, and Dr. Berit Funkquist at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden, for their help and fruitful cooperation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Surgery, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, and Department of Immunology, University of Stockholm, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    H. Broström

Authors
  1. H. Broström
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Broström, H. Equine Sarcoids. A Clinical and Epidemiological Study in Relation to Equine Leucocyte Antigens (ELA). Acta Vet Scand 36, 223–236 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547691

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547691

Keywords

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147