Clinical course of sarcoids in 61 Franches-Montagnes horses over a 5-7 year period.
Abstract: The progression of equine sarcoids (ES) is notoriously unpredictable. Making a choice for the appropriate treatment is challenging when dealing with milder manifestations of ES. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course of ES in young horses. Methods: A cohort of 61 ES-affected three-year-old Franches-Montagnes horses and a breed-, age- and geographically matched control group of 75 ES-free peers were examined twice over a period of 5-7 years. Owners and caretakers were queried, using a standardized questionnaire. Results: More than half of the 38/61 (62%) horses that were ES-affected at the age of three, had become ES-free at the time of follow-up. In 29 of 38 horses, representing 48% of the entire study population, ES lesions had spontaneously disappeared without therapy. When differentiating the clinical types of ES lesions, occult ES underwent complete spontaneous regression in 65% (11/17), while verrucous lesions regressed spontaneously in 32% (9/28). None of the evaluated intrinsic or environmental factors showed a significant effect on the risk for development, regression or exacerbation of ES disease. Conclusions: Our results document a surprisingly high rate of spontaneous ES regression for young horses affected with milder manifestations of ES disease. These findings justify a 'wait-and-see' approach in selected cases of occult and verrucous ES, provided that all lesions are closely monitored. Furthermore, results of this study should also be considered when critically assessing treatment effects of therapies directed against ES, especially in the context of uncontrolled studies.
Publication Date: 2016-07-11 PubMed ID: 27327513DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2016.1204483Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Longitudinal Study
- Observational Study
- Regression Analysis
- Sarcoids
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Research
- Young Horses
Summary
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The article discusses a study conducted on young Franches-Montagnes horses, exploring the development and progression of equine sarcoids (ES) over a course of 5-7 years. The study highlights the unpredictable nature of ES and proposes that in cases of milder ES manifestations, a wait-and-see approach may be warranted as spontaneous regression of ES was noticed in many cases.
Objective and Methodology
- The primary objective of the research was to examine the clinical course of ES in young Franches-Montagnes horses.
- A total of 61 horses affected by ES and a control group of 75 age, breed, and location matched ES-free horses were part of the study.
- Both groups were examined twice over a range of 5-7 years.
- Horse owners and caretakers were asked to provide information via a standardized questionnaire.
Results
- Observations show that 62% of the horses which had ES at the age of three were found to be ES-free at the time of follow-up.
- In 48% of the total study population (29 out of 38 horses), ES lesions had disappeared without any therapy. This indicates a significant rate of spontaneous ES regression.
- Upon differentiating the clinical types of ES lesions, it was seen that 65% of occult ES spontaneously regressed, and 32% of verrucous lesions regressed without intervention.
- The study found no significant effect from any intrinsic or environmental factors on the risk for development, regression, or exacerbation of ES disease.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that there is a high rate of spontaneous ES regression in young horses with mild ES disease. This justifies a possible wait-and-see approach in selected cases of occult and verrucous ES, provided the lesions are closely monitored.
- The study’s results also provide data that can be used to critically assess the treatment effects of therapies directed against ES, especially in studies without a control group.
Cite This Article
APA
Berruex F, Gerber V, Wohlfender FD, Burger D, Koch C.
(2016).
Clinical course of sarcoids in 61 Franches-Montagnes horses over a 5-7 year period.
Vet Q, 36(4), 189-196.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2016.1204483 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- a Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine , University of Berne and Agroscope , Berne and Avenches , Switzerland.
- a Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine , University of Berne and Agroscope , Berne and Avenches , Switzerland.
- a Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine , University of Berne and Agroscope , Berne and Avenches , Switzerland.
- b Vetsuisse Faculty, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Veterinary Public Health Institute , University of Berne , Berne , Switzerland.
- a Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine , University of Berne and Agroscope , Berne and Avenches , Switzerland.
- a Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine , University of Berne and Agroscope , Berne and Avenches , Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cohort Studies
- Disease Progression
- Female
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Skin Neoplasms / etiology
- Skin Neoplasms / therapy
- Skin Neoplasms / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Saba C, Eggleston R, Parks A, Peroni J, Sjoberg E, Rice S, Tyma J, Williams J, Grosenbaugh D, Leard AT. ALVAC-fIL2, a feline interleukin-2 immunomodulator, as a treatment for sarcoids in horses: A pilot study.. J Vet Intern Med 2022 May;36(3):1179-1184.
- Cosandey J, Hamza E, Gerber V, Ramseyer A, Leeb T, Jagannathan V, Blaszczyk K, Unger L. Diagnostic and prognostic potential of eight whole blood microRNAs for equine sarcoid disease.. PLoS One 2021;16(12):e0261076.
- Martano M, Altamura G, Power K, Restucci B, Carella F, Borzacchiello G, Maiolino P. Evaluation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha (HIF-1α) in Equine Sarcoid: An Immunohistochemical and Biochemical Study.. Pathogens 2020 Jan 14;9(1).
- Unger L, Jagannathan V, Pacholewska A, Leeb T, Gerber V. Differences in miRNA differential expression in whole blood between horses with sarcoid regression and progression.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jan;33(1):241-250.
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