Treatment of canine transmissible venereal tumour using different surgico-chemotherapeutic protocols

Canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) also known as infectious sarcoma, venereal granuloma, transmissible lymphosarcoma or sticker tumour is usually transmitted through coitus and mainly affects the external genitalia of young sexually matured dogs. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy are considered as effective treatment protocols. Therefore, depending upon the availability present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of different surgico-chemotherapeutic protocols for treatment of canine transmissible venereal tumour. The study was conducted during January 2018 to July 2018 at the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC) and Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Anjora, Durg (C.G.) on 18 canines of various breed, irrespective of age, sex and divided into three groups consisting 6 animals in each group. Group A was treated with surgical excision of tumour only where as Group B and Group C were treated with surgical excision of tumour followed by administration of Doxorubicin (30 mg/m²) BSA and Vincristine sulphate (0.025 mg/kg) intravenously alongwith DNS at 7ᵗʰ and 14ᵗʰ post-operative days respectively. Different physiological and haemato-biochemical parameters (Hb, PCV, TLC, TPC, DLC, serum glucose, TSP, SUN, SC, ALT, AST and ALP) were recorded preoperatively, postoperatively and after chemotherapy at 10ᵗʰ, 30ᵗʰ and 60ᵗʰ days intervals. The present investigation showed transient changes in physiological and haemato-biochemical parameters before, post surgery and post chemotherapeutic management and was within normal range. Histopathological examination revealed confluent sheet of tumour cells arranged in large round oval or polyhedral shaped distributed in tight clusters or cords. Group A showed mild to moderated reoccurrence while Group B showed minimum reoccurrence. Group C showed no reoccurrence. Thus, surgery combined with vincristine therapy is most effective for treating dogs suffering with transmissible venereal tumour.