BCG Immunotherapy in Equine Sarcoid Treatment: Mechanisms, Clinical Efficacy, and Challenges in Veterinary Oncology.

ABSTRACT: Equine sarcoids are the most common dermatological neoplasm in horses worldwide, associated with bovine papillomavirus (BPV) infection and characterized by high recurrence rates after conventional therapies. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy has historically been used for sarcoid treatment, yet its role in contemporary veterinary oncology remains debated. This narrative review critically examines the immunological mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and limitations of BCG in equine sarcoid therapy, while integrating insights from comparative oncology and One Health perspectives. A systematic search following PRISMA-based criteria identified 55 relevant studies published over the past four decades. Evidence indicates that BCG activates innate and adaptive immunity through TLR2/4 signa

SUBMITTER: Monteiro MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12567874 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature