Treatment of bovine lymphosarcoma with L-asparaginase

L-asparaginase was used to treat a 4-year-old Holstein cow with lymphosarcoma that involved the spinal cord, subiliac lymph nodes, and retrobulbar space. The cow received 60,000 IU of L-asparaginase IV for a total of 4 treatments. After each treatment, the cow's condition improved, characterized by decreased weakness, decreased ataxia, a reduction in size of the left subiliac lymph node, and decreased exophthalmos. Side effects were not observed. The cow was kept alive for 57 days. This treatment offers a way of salvaging the genetic potential of valuable cows and bulls.