Lymphoma in Australian Border Collies: survey results and pedigree analyses

Abstract

Objectives The aims of this study were to (1) describe the results of a survey on the clinical features of lymphoma in Australian Border Collies and (2) investigate familial clustering of lymphoma‐affected dogs by means of pedigree analyses. Methods Clinical and pedigree information was collected from surveys completed by owners or breeders of Australian Border Collies. Relationships between dogs were derived from pedigree data and kinship was analysed by network and cluster‐based algorithms. Results A total of 246 respondents completed the survey and 57 lymphoma‐affected Australian Border Collies were identified. The mean age of diagnosis was 9.16 (SD ± 3.43) years and the median was 9.7 years (range 2–15 years). The odds of female dogs affected with lymphoma were twice those of males in the reported data (OR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.13–3.73; P = 0.02). Multicentric, high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma was the most common form in these dogs. Pedigree analyses identified 21 affected dogs that descended from two sires and 28 cases with a common female ancestor. Average inbreeding between both affected and unaffected dogs was similar (0.16, SD ± 0.06 and 0.15, SD ± 0.06, respectively). Conclusion The survey confirmed the presence of a relatively large number of cases of lymphoma in Australian Border Collies, consistent with our previous report of increased risk in this breed. Some dogs were diagnosed at a very young age, but the age ranged over the normal lifespan. Pedigree analyses identified multiple cases within family groups, suggesting a heritable component of the disease in this breed.

Age at cancer diagnosis by breed, weight, sex, and cancer type in a cohort of more than 3,000 dogs: Determining the optimal age to initiate cancer screening in canine patients

“…Previous studies have focused on age at cancer diagnosis, or age at death from cancer, for individual breeds [16][17][18] or for specific cancer types [19][20][21], making the findings difficult to generalize to other breeds or to mixed-breed dogs. Some of the larger, population-based studies that incorporated a more diverse selection of breeds were conducted in Europe [2,3,22,23] where common breeds may not be representative of breeds that are common in the United States; additionally, cancer incidence and cancer types observed in these studies may be different from those seen in a US population, given environmental differences and spay/neuter rates in Europe versus the United States.…”

In this issue – January/February 2019: Dog health education in Aboriginal communities · Clients and the internet · Genetics of lymphoma in Australian Border Collies · Meloxicam in a pain model in sheep · Anaesthetising swamp buffalo · Ultrasound measurement of jejunum in poultry

“…A study from the University of Sydney addresses the potential genetic background for lymphoma in Australian Border Collies concludes that there is a heritable component to this disease and that further tests are needed to look at the genetic risk including the risk of disease in young dogs …”

“…A study from the University of Sydney addresses the potential genetic background for lymphoma in Australian Border Collies concludes that there is a heritable component to this disease and that further tests are needed to look at the genetic risk including the risk of disease in young dogs. 3 The aetiology of lymphoma is unclear, but overseas studies have identified a role for genetic mutations. In a study promoted via the Border Collie Club of NSW, owners and breeders were asked about their dogs' current health status and those whose dogs had a history of lymphoma were asked additional questions.…”

Lymphoma in Border Collies: Genome-Wide Association and Pedigree Analysis

“…Border Collies are a popular breed worldwide and are at increased risk of lymphoma compared to the general population [ 36 ]. Lymphomas in Border Collies are most often of the B-cell immunophenotype (84 to 91% of cases) [ 5 , 37 ]. We previously reported the results of a survey of lymphoma of Border Collies in Australia and identified 28 cases with a common female ancestor [ 37 ], suggesting a potential heritable risk.…”