Sarcoid is the most common tumor in horses worldwide. It is a connective tissue tumor involving the skin that does not form metastases in internal organs but often recurs after surgical removal. It is therefore referred to as a semi-malignant tumor. Horses of all breeds and ages are affected, as well as donkeys and mules.
Equine sarcoid is caused by the bovine papillomavirus (papilloma = wart). The virus can enter the horse's subcutaneous tissue through tiny skin lesions and multiply in the cells, leading to excessive cell division and tumor growth. Furthermore, a hereditary component of the disease has also been proven. An infected horse often shows several tumors in different areas of the body.
The tumors, which do not always have a uniform appearance, occur primarily on areas of the horse's head, neck, chest, limbs, and lower abdomen that have little hair and thin skin. They exhibit invasive growth and can sometimes grow to the size of a fist or soccer ball. Only in the early stages do the changes resemble a wart; later, the upper layers of skin break down and the surface appears cracked. Bleeding and open wounds often occur on the surface, providing an entry point for bacteria. Especially in warm summer months, there is also a risk of colonization by fly larvae. The tumor itself is not painful. Only the location of the sarcoids can lead to mechanical impairments, for example, if they are located in the saddle or girth area. The general condition of affected horses is not disturbed.
Based on their appearance, sarcoids have been classified into different types:
Type 1: Occult sarcoid (occult = hidden)
Type 2: Verrucous sarcoid (verrucous = wart-like)
Type 3: Nodular sarcoid (nodular = knotty)
Type 4: Fibroblastic sarcoid (fibroblast = connective tissue cell)
Type 5: Mixed sarcoid
Type 6: Malignant sarcoid (malignant = malignant)
Even if the clinical appearance of the disease seems clear, there are other skin tumors that show similar symptoms. In addition to the general examination, the treating veterinarian can therefore always take a tissue sample (biopsy) and have it examined in a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis.
Although a wide variety of treatment methods have been developed over the years, none of them promise a 100% cure. Furthermore, the choice of treatment depends greatly on the type, size, and location of the tumor. Talk to your veterinarian about the most appropriate and promising measures for your individual case.
Radical surgical removal of the tumors was the treatment of choice for a long time, although the size and location of the sarcomas often led to wound healing disorders and recurrence of the tumor. Up to 50% of all operated sarcomas returned after removal. With the help of cryosurgery, success rates of up to 70% have already been achieved. This involves freezing the diseased tissue to -20 degrees Celsius in several applications, causing it to die off. However, the location and size of the sarcoids limit the range of application of this method, as damage to the surrounding tissue is difficult to prevent with this type of therapy. Laser surgery is also used to remove equine sarcoids. In contrast to cryosurgery, there is usually no swelling of the wound after removal, although delayed wound closure has been reported in some cases.
Following surgical measures, a vaccine can be produced from the tumor material and injected into the horse after tumor removal. This cannot prevent the recurrence of sarcoids, but it can significantly prolong the time interval until new tumors appear.
In addition, very time-consuming and costly radiation therapy, chemotherapy, heat treatment, and phytotherapy are used with varying degrees of success. In the field of local therapy, there are countless preparations on the market whose effectiveness always depends on the size and type of the sarcoid. Trust your veterinarian, who will recommend a suitable treatment method for your individual case.
The chances of recovery depend on the location and extent of the tumor and on the type and implementation of the treatment.
Since susceptibility to the disease has been proven to be hereditary, breeding animals should be tested for the responsible antigens. If a horse has the predisposition and carries the papilloma virus, the development of sarcoids cannot be completely prevented. However, everything can be done to ensure that the horse maintains a stable immune system. This provides the best protection against external factors that can influence the growth of sarcoids.
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