BCG treatment of periocular sarcoid.

The study evaluates the efficacy of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment in managing periocular sarcoids in horses and mules, finding all treated sarcoids were cured with no recurrence during a two-year follow-up period.

Introduction

• This research focuses on the treatment of periocular sarcoids, tumors that commonly affect horses and mules, often causing discomfort or impeding vision.
• The researchers used intralesional injections of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a vaccine originally developed for tuberculosis and later found to have therapeutic effects in various malignancies.

Methods

• The study involved 26 horses and 5 mules, all diagnosed with periocular sarcoids.
• These animals received intralesional injections of BCG. The administration of BCG involved purified cell walls suspended in oil, a formulation chosen for its slow-release properties.

Results

• The BCG treatment led to the complete cure of all sarcoids in the horses and mules.
• None of the animals showed a recurrence of the sarcoids within a two-year follow-up period after treatment.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that intralesional BCG injections are an effective treatment for periocular sarcoids in horses and mules.
• BCG not only managed to cure the sarcoids completely but also ensured there were no recurrences during the two years of monitoring post treatment.
• This research adds to the evidence supporting BCG as a viable treatment strategy for sarcoids, potentially paving the way for improved animal welfare.