Evaluation of a bladder tumor antigen test as a screening test for transitional cell carcinoma of the lower urinary tract in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the veterinary version of the bladder tumor antigen (V-BTA) test as a screening test for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the lower urinary tract of dogs.


METHODS
229 client-owned dogs.


METHODS
Urine samples from dogs were shipped overnight to a single laboratory to facilitate testing within 48 hours of collection by use of the V-BTA rapid latex agglutination urine dipstick test. Groups of dogs included the following: 1) dogs with TCC of the lower urinary tract, 2) healthy control dogs, 3) unhealthy control dogs with non-TCC urinary tract disease, and 4) unhealthy control dogs without urinary tract disease. Test sensitivity and specificity were calculated by use of standard methods. Logistic models were developed to assess the effect of disease status, test conditions, urine composition, and signalment on the performance of the V-BTA test.


RESULTS
A total of 229 urine samples were analyzed, including 48 from dogs with suspected (n = 3) or confirmed (45) TCC. Test sensitivities were 88, 87, and 85% for all dogs with (suspected and confirmed) TCC, dogs with confirmed TCC at any site, and dogs with confirmed TCC of the urinary bladder, respectively. Test specificities were 84, 41, and 86% for healthy control dogs, unhealthy control dogs with non-TCC urinary tract disease, and unhealthy control dogs without urinary tract disease, respectively. The test performed slightly better on centrifuged urine samples than on uncentrifuged urine samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the V-BTA test is useful in screening for urinary tract TCC in dogs.
Henry
Carolyn J
CJ
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Tyler
Jeff W
JW
McEntee
Margaret C
MC
Stokol
Tracy
T
Rogers
Kenita S
KS
Chun
Ruthanne
R
Garrett
Laura D
LD
McCaw
Dudley L
DL
Higginbotham
Mary Lynn
ML
Flessland
Karen A
KA
Stokes
Pam Koffend
PK
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000652:urine*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000662:veterinary*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm