Intralesional Bleomycin Treatment for an Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)

Abstract

This study describes the case of an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) that experienced clinical manifestations since March 2018. Biopsy samples from his oral mucous membrane were collected in November 2018, confirming the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The dolphin was administered the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam, however, the lesion continued to gradually deteriorate. Therefore, intralesional (ILES) bleomycin was administered. After several months, the lesion gradually improved without serious side effects. This case is the first report of ILES bleomycin treatment for OSCC in the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin.