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. 2015 Jan 26:2:1.
doi: 10.1186/2052-6687-2-1. eCollection 2015.

Prevalence and risk factors for mast cell tumours in dogs in England

Stephanie Jw Shoop  1 , Stephanie Marlow  2 , David B Church  3 , Kate English  4 , Paul D McGreevy  5 , Anneliese J Stell  3 , Peter C Thomson  5 , Dan G O'Neill  2 , David C Brodbelt  2
Affiliations

Prevalence and risk factors for mast cell tumours in dogs in England

Stephanie Jw Shoop et al. Canine Genet Epidemiol. .

Abstract

Background: Mast cell tumour (MCT) appears to be a frequent tumour type in dogs, though there is little published in relation to its frequency in dogs in the UK. The current study aimed to investigate prevalence and risk factors for MCTs in dogs attending English primary-care veterinary practices.

Methods: Electronic patient records from practices participating in the VetCompass animal surveillance project between July 2007 and June 2013 were searched for MCT diagnosis. Various search terms and standard diagnostic terms (VeNom codes) identified records containing MCT diagnoses, which were evaluated against clinical criteria for inclusion to the study. MCT prevalence for the entire dataset and specific breed types were calculated. Descriptive statistics characterised MCT cases and multivariable logistic regression methods evaluated risk factors for association with MCT (P < 0.05).

Results: Within a population of 168,636 dogs, 453 had MCT, yielding a prevalence of 0.27% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24% - 0.29%). The highest breed type specific prevalences were for the Boxer at 1.95% (95% CI 1.40% - 2.51%), Golden Retriever at 1.39% (0.98% - 1.81%) and Weimaraner at 0.85% (95% CI 0.17% to 1.53%). Age, insurance status, neuter status, weight and breed type were associated with MCT diagnosis. Of dogs of specific breed type, the Boxer, Pug and Staffordshire Bull Terrier showed greater odds of MCT diagnosis compared with crossbred dogs. Conversely, the German Shepherd Dog, Border Collie, West Highland White Terrier, Springer Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel had reduced odds of MCT diagnosis compared with crossbred dogs. No association was found between MCT diagnosis and sex.

Clinical significance: This study highlights a clinically significant prevalence of MCT and identifies specific breed types with predisposition to MCT, potentially aiding veterinarian awareness and facilitating diagnosis.

Keywords: Canine; Epidemiology; Mast cell; Mastocytoma; Oncology; Prevalence; Primary-care practice.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of mast cell tumour (MCT) positive and non-MCT dogs attributed to specific breeds. 95% confidence intervals are displayed relating to these values. Cases (n = 453) and controls (n = 2036) were selected from a VetCompass population of 168,636 dogs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk factors for mast cell tumour (MCT) from final multivariable binary logistic regression model. Odds ratios for MCT with corresponding 95% confidence intervals are reported. Dogs weighing less than 10 kg and aged less than 2 yrs have odds ratios of 1 as were used as baseline categories for weight and age variables respectively.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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