Risk factors and characteristics of canine transmissible venereal tumours in Grenada, West Indies

Abstract

We studied risk factors and characteristics of canine transmissible venereal tumours (TVTs) in Grenada. We abstracted data for 38 TVT cases and 114 TVT-free dogs submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory between 2003 and 2006. Occurrence profiles, odds ratios (ORs), and logistic regression models for TVT were determined using a significance level of alpha = 0.05. TVT was found in 20 (52.6%) female and 18 (47.4%) male dogs. Of the TVT cases, 32 (84.2%) were between 1 and 7 years old, 20 (52.6%) were mixed breeds of dogs, 14 (36.8%) were Grenadian pothounds, while 4 (10.6%) were pure-bred dogs. Characteristic TVT lesions were genital growths [OR = 96.7; 95% CI (27,461), P < 0.001], genital bleeding [OR = 12.7; 95% CI (4.6, 39.2), P < 0.001] and secondary inflammation of TVT lesion [OR = 4.3; 95% CI (2, 10), P < 0.001]. Extragenital TVT lesions were observed in 23% (9/38) of dogs. An increased risk for TVT was associated with age as adult (1-7 years) dogs [OR = 12; 95% CI (1.6, 94), P < 0.001] and status as a Grenadian pothound [OR = 8.6; 95% CI (3, 25), P < 0.001]. Clinicians should educate dog owners about increased risk of TVT for Grenadian pothounds and consider TVT as a possibility for some extragenital tumours.

Pakistan’da Sahipli Köpeklerde Köpek Bulaşıcı Veneral Tümör (CTVT) İçin Risk Faktörlerinin Belirlenmesi

“…Current study implicates that there is no significant difference between genders, age groups with various breeds either imported or mongrels that can influence the disease burden. These results are similar to previous studies [9,10] . The possible cause of variable frequency among the groups is might be due to their key importance in dog breeding business and notion of obtaining higher sperms and ova quality [15,16] .…”

“…High density human population areas are also considered as risk for contracting CTVT (OR=2.54); might be because of more congesting living style and more interaction. Relationship of presence of dogs in neighborhood and high density human population areas with CTVT has been also discussed in previous studies [9,10] .…”

“…That is why the knowledge related to breeding practices involving bloody discharge was also included as risk factors. These selected risk factors were the result of extensive review of previous studies and observations of local canine keeping practices [3,[8][9][10] . The questionnaire and the variable boundaries were explained to the owners by the interviewer so that owner could answer those questions easily.…”

“…Although considerable work regarding diagnosis and therapeutic management has been reported in Pakistan [7,8] . However, as compared to other countries, there is little work has been done in Pakistan regarding the risk factors associated with CTVT [6,9,10] .…”

“…Previous studies have revealed that introduction and transmission of CTVT is associated with age, breed, sex, purpose of dog keeping [3,10] , contact with stray dogs and high human population density areas [9] . These mentioned risk factors are important in identification of high-risk areas and kennels, which could be planned for interventions like treatment.…”