Canine breeds associated with gastric carcinoma, metaplasia and dysplasia diagnosed by histopathology of endoscopic biopsy samples

Abstract

BackgroundGastric carcinoma (GC) is a rather rare pathological finding in dogs, with the exception of some breeds which seem predisposed. The etiopathogenesis is largely unknown in dogs, whereas in humans GC often develops from gastric mucosal metaplasia and dysplasia. This study investigates whether dogs of certain breeds are more often subject to gastroduodenoscopy (GDS), and diagnosed with GC, mucosal metaplasia or dysplasia. A retrospective clinical database search was performed at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Helsinki, Finland. The following inclusion criteria were applied to estimate relative risk for metaplasia/dysplasia and GC: dogs from pure breeds with at least five individuals subject to GDS with histopathology of gastric biopsies.ResultsBetween 2006 and 2016, from a total of 54945 canine patients presented, 423 dogs underwent GDS. Inclusion criteria were met in 180 dogs of 20 different pure breeds. Eight dogs had GCs (mean age = 9.8 ± 1.7 years): Belgian Tervuren (n = 4), Collie (n = 2), Golden Retriever (n = 1) and Jack Russel Terrier (n = 1). Fourteen dogs of eight breeds had gastric mucosal metaplasia or dysplasia. A log-binomial statistical model revealed that dogs in the following breeds had a significantly higher probability to undergo GDS than the others in the study population: Australian Terrier, Belgian Tervuren, Cairn Terrier, Collie and Siberian Husky. Belgian Tervuren was found at higher risk to be diagnosed with GC [RR = 19 (5.7–63.9; P < 0.0001)], as well as mucosal metaplasia/dysplasia [RR (7.6; 2.95–19.58; P < 0.0001)], as compared to the other breeds included. Shetland Sheepdog had an increased RR (5.83; 1.75–19.45; P = 0.0041) for metaplasia.ConclusionsThe results indicate a very low incidence of GC in dogs. The Belgian Tervuren, however, appears as predisposed. The histopathologic descriptions of mucosal changes such as metaplasia and dysplasia were also rare, but were more frequent in the Belgian Tervuren. Previous reports of these changes in dogs are very scarce, but they might be presumably related to GC in dogs, as they are in humans. Future research should investigate the possible role of metaplasia and dysplasia in the development of GC in dogs, especially those of predisposed breeds.

Gastric mucosal pathology in Belgian Shepherd dogs with and without clinical signs of gastric disease

“…Moreover, 6/27 (22%) BSD over 5.5 years of age were diagnosed with GC regardless of clinical condition. This further corroborates a marked predisposition to GC in these ageing Tervuren and Groenendael BSD, as GC is rare in dogs, except for a few predisposed breeds [ 1 , 6 ]. Even more importantly, it shows that gastric pathology including GC can occur as an occult disease in affected dogs.…”

“…GC is frequently seen in Tervuren and Groenendael Belgian Shepherd dogs (BSD) and some other dog breeds, including Bouvier des Flandres, Collie, Standard Poodle, Norwegian Elkhound and Chow-Chow [ 1 – 5 ]. A previous study in Finland found an increased risk ratio (RR = 19) for Tervuren BSD undergoing endoscopy to be diagnosed with GC [ 6 ]. In the majority of cases, GC carries a very poor prognosis, since diagnosis is mostly achieved at a late, advanced stage.…”

Comparison of the effects of methadone and butorphanol combined with acepromazine for canine gastroduodenoscopy

“…Our results are derived from a relatively homogenous population of dogs, mainly consisting of middle-aged Belgian shepherds. Belgian shepherds are predisposed to gastric carcinoma (Candido et al, 2018); which is the reason why these dogs were the main breed undergoing gastroduodenoscopy. It is also the reason why symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs with a genetic neoplastic predisposition were included in the study.…”

Adenocarcinoma mucinoso gástrico em canino

“…Adenocarcinomas gástricos são neoplasias malignas de origem epitelial, classificados de acordo com as características histológicas em papilar, tubular, mucinoso e pouco coeso (Galvão et al, 2009;Munday et al, 2017). Nos caninos os adenocarcinomas representam a neoplasia gástrica primária mais comum (Gualtieri et al, 1999;Willard, 2012;Candido et al, 2018), acometendo com maior frequência machos com mais de 10 anos de idade e das raças Rough Collie, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Chow-chow, Pastor Belga, Lundehund Noruegues, Cairn Terrier e Terrier Branco de West Highland (Sullivan et al, 1987;Bilek et al, 2007;Seim-Wikse et al, 2013;Munday et al, 2017;Koterbay et al, 2020;Hardas et al, 2021).…”

“…Os sinais clínicos de tumor gástrico são inespecíficos como inapetência, vômito intermitente ou crônico e perda de peso progressiva com o diagnóstico na maioria dos casos determinado somente em estágio avançado da doença (Sullivan et al, 1987;Von Babo et al, 2012;Seim-Wikse et al, 2013;Abrams et al, 2019), sendo esses sinais clínicos observados mais tardiamente na variante mucinosa (Galvão et al, 2009;Munday et al, 2017). A etiologia dos carcinomas gástricos é desconhecida na maioria dos casos, porém pode estar associada a fatores ambientais e genéticos, assim como em humanos (Scanziani et al, 1991;Lubbes et al, 2009;Munday et al, 2012;Seim-Wikse et al, 2013;Hugen et al, 2016;Munday et al, 2017;Candido et al, 2018). Histologicamente o adenocarcinoma mucinoso é caracterizado por células neoplásicas contendo mucina no citoplasma com núcleo deslocado para a periferia (célula em anel de sinete), além de mucina extracelular (Munday et al, 2017;Hardas et al, 2021).…”