Are sarcoids contagious?

[oldie48]

I suggest anyone that is interested in this should read some proper articles from scientific journals rather than discussing it here. Here's one to get people started, it is the report of an investigation into whether the sarcoid virus can also be spread from cows to horses: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378113512005494
Happy reading

If you don't have a scientific background you might fine www.vetstream.com has a more readable account!

 

[Sare]

Some sarcoids are caused by the papilloma virus, which is the virus which causes warts.

I think that may be what causes the confusion. Warts can develop into sarcoids. It is not necessarily the sarcoids which are catching, rather the warts which MAY develop into the sarcoids given any predisposing factors.

Ok Im getting a bit confused now, this is all a learning curve for me so excuse my stupidity

But isnt the reason people dont like sarcoids is because they cause cancer but how can warts turn into cancer?

Or is it just the warts start spreading and kind of take over the horse?
And why havent they got a cure for horse warts when they can get rid of human warts even though I am aware the virus stays its just the outbreak is gone

The papilloma virus is the one linked with cervical cancer in humans (HPV)

 

[el_Snowflakes]

Snoopers- human warts are also very difficult to get rid of & some never go away as they are viral.

 

[cundlegreen]

Surely, with anything viral, you should be addressing the immune system? I wouldn't be worried about a flat sarcoid in a youngster. I've got one here now. he's been given limestone flour daily to alkalise his system, and the sarcoid has reduced rapidly. I would expect it to be gone in approx 6 months. This is what happened with another 5 year old that I had.

 

[Keenjean]

I read the research paper - id say the findings aren't very clear and certainly aren't decisive enough to say they definitely do spread between horses. But I guess if there is a risk then precautions must be taken.

 

[Loulou2002]

I was told by one of the country's foremost professors that flys carry the virus between horses a fly gets onto a raw sarcoid then onto a wound on another horse that's how they get about.
They also showed me some turely awful pictures of a horse where the virus had got into a large wound causing a terrifying sarcoid the horse in those pictures had to be PTS they where impressing upon me the importance of vigilance around horses with sarcoids.

I've also been told that sarcoids can be spread via flys and there was a study done on this a while ago. Never had a horse with a sarcoid until a few weeks ago and was advised to keep the sarcoid covered with something like vaseline to stop the flys getting to it. Whether this is true or not i'm not sure.