title: Piroxicam and doxycycline treatment for an oral squamous cell carcinoma in an inshore bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The virus family Papillomaviridae has been documented in a wide range of animal species and can cause benign and malignant proliferative lesions. The presence of concurrent lingual papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in cetaceans has also been documented in both wild and captive populations, suggesting malignant transformation of benign papilloma to SCC may occur in this species.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008, a 38-year-old captive male inshore bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) was diagnosed with papillomatous lesions on the intermandibular frenulum rostral to the tongue and an infiltrative SCC of the soft palate following biopsy and histological analysis. A treatment regimen of piroxicam and doxycycline was initiated with misoprostol as a gastroprotectant. The treatment resulted in a marked reduction in tumour size and reversible hepatotoxicosis. Subsequent biopsies revealed the presence of SCC in the oral cavity; however, the disease remains stable at the time of writing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report of piroxicam and doxycycline used to treat SCC in a bottlenose dolphin. The treatment was successful in reducing the clinical presentation of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Dolphin Marine Magic, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2456, Australia. vet@dolphinmarinemagic.com.au, duanmarch@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: March
authors.affiliation: Seaworld, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Blyde
authors.affiliation: Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.|Division of Comparative Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Bossart
authors.affiliation: Vetnostics, North Ryde, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Begg
authors.affiliation: Vetnostics, North Ryde, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: CoffsHarbour Veterinary Hospital, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: McClure
keywords: bottlenose dolphin; doxycycline; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; papilloma; piroxicam; squamous cell carcinoma