The effects of intravesical and intradermal application of a new B.C.G. on the dog bladder.

Intravesical and intradermal application of B.C.G. (Bacillus Calmette Guérin) has proven to be effective in the prophylaxis of recurrence of superficial bladder carcinoma after transurethral resection and in the treatment of carcinoma in situ (C.I.S.) in man. Different strains of B.C.G. have been used for this purpose. In this article a new strain of B.C.G. (B.C.G.-R.I.V.M.) has been tested to assess its toxicity. The effects of intravesical and intradermal application of B.C.G.-R.I.V.M. were studied on normal and on coagulated canine urothelium. In this study no general side effects of B.C.G.-R.I.V.M. were seen. Only minor local changes occurred in the bladder wall. Small granulomas were found in the suburothelial tissue. No granulomas or signs of active inflammation were observed in the pelvic lymphnodes, spleen and liver. Because B.C.G.-R.I.V.M. seemed to be a safe agent in the dog we have started to use it for prophylaxis in superficial bladder cancer in man.