Open AccessA retrospective study of canine transmissible venereal tumour in Grenada, West Indies
Author(s) -
Schectman Sara J.,
Khanam Afroza,
Walters Mellisa N. D.,
Kirwan Elliot,
Sylvester Wayne R.,
Khan Firdous A.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
veterinary medicine and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 11
ISSN - 2053-1095
DOI - 10.1002/vms3.778
Subject(s) - medicine , breed , odds ratio , confidence interval , logistic regression , purebred , veterinary medicine , retrospective cohort study , population , zoology , biology , environmental health
Abstract Background Canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a naturally occurring neoplasia affecting dogs worldwide. Previous CTVT studies in Grenada were limited to case records of dogs with neoplastic conditions at a veterinary diagnostic laboratory. Objectives The present retrospective study aimed to determine the occurrence and risk factors of CTVT in a wider population of owned dogs presented to a university‐affiliated veterinary hospital between 2008 and 2018. Methods Data on the age, breed, gender, and gonadectomy status were retrieved from an electronic database and analyzed using logistic regression. Results Of the 7180 dogs presented during the period, 102 dogs (1.4%) were diagnosed with CTVT. A higher predisposition was observed in Grenadian pothounds (odds ratio [OR] = 22.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 10.3–50.4; p < 0.001) and mixed‐breed dogs (OR = 9.2, 95% CI 4.1–20.7; p < 0.001) in comparison to the purebreds. Neutered dogs (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.4–3.3; p < 0.001) were at an increased risk of CTVT than intact dogs. Age and gender were not identified as significant risk factors. Conclusions The percentage of dogs with CTVT in this study represents a crude estimate of the CTVT prevalence in the owned dog population in Grenada. Further studies including both owned and free‐roaming dogs are required for a more accurate estimation of the CTVT prevalence in the region. Our results indicate that breed and gonadectomy status are significant risk factors for the occurrence of CTVT in Grenada.