World-First Electrochemotherapy Treats Reticulated Python at Chester Zoo

POLICY WIRE — Chester, UK — Chester Zoo has achieved a groundbreaking veterinary feat by performing a world-first electrochemotherapy treatment on a reticulated python diagnosed with an oral cancerous tumor. The procedure, combining chemotherapy and electrical pulses, aims to enhance drug delivery to cancer cells and increase treatment efficacy.

The reticulated python, a species native to Southeast Asia, had a tumor removed from its mouth prior to the electrochemotherapy session. This innovative approach is typically used in human medicine to treat various cancers, but its application in veterinary medicine, particularly for reptiles, is unprecedented.

Dr. Mark Evans, the zoo’s veterinary director, stated, “This is a significant step forward in veterinary oncology. Electrochemotherapy offers a promising new avenue for treating cancer in a range of species, including those that are less commonly treated with conventional methods.”

The zoo’s veterinary team worked in collaboration with external specialists to adapt the treatment for the python. The procedure involved administering chemotherapy drugs and then applying electrical pulses to the tumor site to increase cell permeability and drug uptake.

Chester Zoo’s initiative underscores the growing field of comparative oncology, where treatments developed for humans are adapted for use in animals. This approach not only benefits animal patients but also contributes to broader medical research.

The python’s recovery and response to the treatment will be closely monitored. If successful, this method could pave the way for similar treatments in other exotic animals and potentially offer new insights into cancer therapy across species.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)