The biological behaviour of the transmissible venereal tumour in immunosuppressed dogs

Abstract

The biological behaviour of the Transmissible Venereal Tumour of the dog (TVT) was studied in whole body X-irradiated dogs. The tumour showed a regular malignant biological behaviour in dogs which had been given 200rads whole-body X-irradiation before tumour transplantation. In most of these dogs the TVT became ulcerated and metastasized. In control dogs the tumour showed a more benign and irregular biological behaviour which ranged from no tumour growth or growth followed by regression in some dogs, to metastases and ulceration in others. Sera, collected at intervals from experimental and control dogs, were tested for the presence of anti-TVT antibodies using the Indirect Membrane Immunofluorescence Test. Only minor differences in anti-TVT antibody activity could be detected between the two groups.