Squamous-cell carcinomas of the vulva in two cows

Two Montbeliard cows, offspring from the same mother were seen during a visit to the same farm. These two animals had nearly identical neoplastic lesions on the vulval lips. One of the animals also had "cancer eye". Several other cows in the herd, including the mother of the two cows in question, were or had been carriers of this type of ocular tumour. Anatomopathological examination revealed a squamous-cell carcinoma. Due to their invasive characteristics and guarded prognosis, surgical ablation is not recommended. Localised treatment and treatment with an immunomodulator containing Mycobacterium chelonae were employed. Tumour development was arrested allowing conservation of the cows until the end of their gestation.