Cross-sectional comparison of superficial swab and fine-needle aspiration: Improving the diagnostic workup of horses with sarcoids.
Abstract: Although bovine papillomavirus (BPV)-induced equine sarcoids are often identified solely by clinical examination, confirmation of the clinical diagnosis is essential for correct treatment selection. Only few approaches are presently available for this purpose. PCR-based screening for BPV in superficial swabs is widely-used to support clinical suspicion. While this method effectively detects sarcoid involvement in ulcerated lesions, sensitivity is lower in tumors with intact epithelium. This cross-sectional study compared the diagnostic characteristics of superficial swabs and fine-needle aspirates (FNA) with the aim to validate FNA as an alternative sampling method to detect BPV in suspect lesions. Among 63 lesions confirmed as sarcoids from 58 horses, compared to swabs FNA detected a greater proportion of BPV positives in general (swab, 70 %,;95 % confidence intervals [CI], 58.5 %-81.2 %; FNA, 98 %, 95 % CI, 95.3 %-100 %; P = 0.0001) and among a non-ulcerated subgroup (swab, 63 %, 95 % CI, 50.4 %-76.6 %; FNA, 98 %, 95 % CI, 91.4 %-100 %; P = 0.0001). Furthermore, the sensitivity, as well as the negative predictive value and accuracy of FNA for matched samples from 58 horses were superior to surface swabbing for the group of all horses and the subgroup that included only lesions with an intact epidermis (n = 48), with differences ranging from 23 % (95 % CI, 11.4 %-34.6 %) to 52 % (95 % CI, 25.9 %-78.1 %). Other advantages of FNA identified were a higher chance of adequate sampling and a reduced risk of unwanted detection of superficial contamination or latent BPV in keratinocytes. The ability to consistently detect BPV in all clinical lesion types indicates that FNA shows promise as a valid diagnostic tool to improve the consistency and quality of the diagnostic workup of equine sarcoids.
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2022-10-19 PubMed ID: 36272685DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105916Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research study aimed to improve the diagnostic processes for equine sarcoids, a type of skin tumor in horses caused by bovine papillomavirus (BPV), by comparing the effectiveness of superficial swabs and fine-needle aspiration (FNA). The results showed that FNA was a more effective method than superficial swabs in detecting BPV, and thus suggests its potential as a better diagnostic tool for equine sarcoids.
Details of the Research
- The study was designed as a cross-sectional comparison of two common diagnostic methods for detecting BPV in equine sarcoids – superficial swabs and fine-needle aspiration (FNA).
- The intention behind this study was to validate the use of FNA as an alternative, and potentially superior, sampling method for detecting BPV in suspect lesions.
- The comparison was made across a sample of 63 lesions confirmed as sarcoids from 58 horses.
Key Findings
- Compared to superficial swabs, FNA identified a greater proportion of BPV positives in general and among a non-ulcerated subgroup. Specifically, the study reported a 98% success rate with FNA while the superficial swab method detected BPV in 70% of cases.
- The sensitivity, the negative predictive value, and accuracy of FNA were superior to surface swabs for the group of all horses and the subgroup that included only lesions with an intact epidermis.
- In addition to this, FNA also had other identified advantages such as a higher chance of adequate sampling and a reduced risk of unwanted detection of superficial contamination or latent BPV in keratinocytes.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that the ability of FNA to consistently detect BPV in all clinical lesion types suggests its potential as a valid diagnostic tool for equine sarcoids.
- This implies that FNA could be a tool to improve the consistency and quality of the diagnostic workup of equine sarcoids, thus leading to better treatment decisions and outcomes.
Cite This Article
APA
Gysens L, Martens A, Haspeslagh M.
(2022).
Cross-sectional comparison of superficial swab and fine-needle aspiration: Improving the diagnostic workup of horses with sarcoids.
Vet J, 289, 105916.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105916 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Surgery, Anaesthesia and Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: lien.gysens@ugent.be.
- Department of Large Animal Surgery, Anaesthesia and Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Large Animal Surgery, Anaesthesia and Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of interest None of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Beermann A, Hamza E, Reinhard S, Koch C, Oberhänsli T, Unger L. Selected microRNAs as biomarkers in sarcoid-affected horses under immunotherapy with a mistletoe extract. J Vet Diagn Invest 2026 Jan;38(1):33-40.
- Su L, Guo J, Shi W, Tong W, Li X, Yang B, Xiang Z, Qin C. Metagenomic analysis reveals the community composition of the microbiome in different segments of the digestive tract in donkeys and cows: implications for microbiome research. BMC Microbiol 2024 Dec 19;24(1):530.
- Beermann A, Clottu O, Reif M, Biegel U, Unger L, Koch C. A randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded study comparing oral and subcutaneous administration of mistletoe extract for the treatment of equine sarcoid disease. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1815-1824.
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