[Observations on the transmissible venereal tumor (sticker) in the dog. A review of the tumors sent into the Institute for Animal Pathology of Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, from 1975 to 1987].

Transmissible venereal tumours (Sticker) of 28 dogs were investigated retrospectively. Data of infection, clinical development, pathological and histological findings were evaluated. The majority of tumours was investigated with regard to their ability to produce cytokeratin in their cytoplasm. With the exception of one dog all animals had been in an African or Southern European country some weeks before the tumour was recognized for the first time. Multiple growth was a common feature of the transmissible venereal tumour; they showed low tendency to infiltrate the surrounding tissues. No case of spontaneous regression was recorded. Metastases to the regional lymph nodes and reinfection were observed in one dog each, relapses in six dogs. In no case the tumour was the immediate cause of death. In the cytoplasm of the transmissible venereal tumours no cytokeratin could be detected.