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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / Equine sarcoids. A clinical and epidemiological study in rel...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica1995; 36(2); 223-236; doi: 10.1186/BF03547691

Equine sarcoids. A clinical and epidemiological study in relation to equine leucocyte antigens (ELA).

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.
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Publication Date: 1995-01-01 PubMed ID: 7484549PubMed Central: PMC8095413DOI: 10.1186/BF03547691Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the link between clinical parameters of sarcoids, a type of benign tumor in horses, and the equine leucocyte antigen system. The study focuses on 120 Swedish horses and explores factors such as age at the onset of sarcoids, size and location of tumors, recurrence rates, and treatment strategies.

About the Research

  • This study is a clinical and epidemiological exploration of equine sarcoids, a common benign tumor in horses.
  • It involves 120 Swedish horses, providing a substantial sample for the study.
  • The researchers paid particular attention to potential connections between the sarcoids and the equine leucocyte antigen system (ELA), an essential part of the immune system in horses.

Key Findings

  • The median age of affected horses was 5.2 years, and solitary tumors with a diameter of 2 – 5 cm on the ventral abdomen were common.
  • Symptoms first appeared on average at 3.5 years, and the age at which sarcoids first showed varied depending on their location.
  • Tumors at different locations had distinct sizes and a correlation was found between multiple tumors, early onset, prolonged duration, and advanced age with larger tumors.

Role of ELA

  • Researchers observed a connection between certain ELA specificities and early onset of sarcoids, as well as higher recurrence rates after surgery.
  • This discovery supports the theory that some horses may have a genetic predisposition to develop these benign tumors.

Treatment and Recurrence

  • About 70% of the horses were treated, mostly through excision, with large size being the main factor prompting treatment.
  • Interestingly, about a third of the horses that did not receive treatment saw a “spontaneous” regression of the sarcoids, indicating a possible immune response to the tumors.
  • The recurrence rate after initial treatment was approximately 35%, with most recurrence happening within the first four months.
  • Risk factors for recurrence included early onset, long duration, large size, and location on distal limbs.
  • Early treatment under general anesthesia, involving extensive excision and measures to prevent the spread of the tumors, significantly reduced recurrence rates.

Cite This Article

APA
Broström H. (1995). Equine sarcoids. A clinical and epidemiological study in relation to equine leucocyte antigens (ELA). Acta Vet Scand, 36(2), 223-236. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547691

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 0044-605X
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 36
Issue: 2
Pages: 223-236

Researcher Affiliations

Broström, H
  • Department of Medicine and Surgery, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Histocompatibility Antigens / immunology
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / immunology
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses
  • Leukocytes / immunology
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sex Factors
  • Skin Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / veterinary
  • Treatment Outcome

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
  1. Vychodilova L, Plasil M, Futas J, Kopecka A, Molinkova D, Wijacki T, Jahn P, Knoll A, Horin P. Genetic susceptibility to sarcoid in Arabian horses: associations with MHC class II and compound MHC class I/KLRA genotypes. Vet Res Commun 2025 May 1;49(3):184.
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  2. De Falco F, Cutarelli A, Pellicanò R, Brandt S, Roperto S. Molecular Detection and Quantification of Ovine Papillomavirus DNA in Equine Sarcoid. Transbound Emerg Dis 2024;2024:6453158.
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  3. Karalus W, Subharat S, Orbell G, Vaatstra B, Munday JS. Equine sarcoids: A clinicopathologic study of 49 cases, with mitotic count and clinical type predictive of recurrence. Vet Pathol 2024 May;61(3):357-365.
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  5. Jindra C, Hainisch EK, Brandt S. Immunotherapy of Equine Sarcoids-From Early Approaches to Innovative Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2023 Mar 30;11(4).
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  6. Pawlina-Tyszko K, Semik-Gurgul E, Ząbek T, Witkowski M. Methylation Status of Gene Bodies of Selected microRNA Genes Associated with Neoplastic Transformation in Equine Sarcoids. Cells 2022 Jun 14;11(12).
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