A retrospective study of canine transmissible venereal tumour in Grenada, West Indies

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.