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Risk factors and characteristics of canine transmissible venereal tumours in Grenada, West Indies |
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| Authors: | R M Kabuusu D F Stroup C Fernandez |
| Institution: | Pathobiology Academic Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Graduate Studies, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada; Data for Solutions, Inc, Decatur, Georgia, USA; Small Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, True Blue, St. George's, Grenada |
| 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 α = 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. |
| Keywords: | extragenital Grenadian pothound risk factor transmissible venerealtumour |