The impact of demographic, social, and environmental factors on the development of steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) in the United Kingdom.
BACKGROUND
Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) is an inflammatory disease of dogs that is suspected to be immune-mediated. The development of other immune-mediated diseases has been linked to vaccinations, time of the year, geographic location, sex, neuter status, and breed.


OBJECTIVE
To identify if the development of SRMA is associated with time of year, vaccination, geographic location, sex, neuter status, and breed.


METHODS
Sixty SRMA cases and 180 controls, all ≤24 months of age and matched for year of presentation, from a referral hospital population in the United Kingdom.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study with unconditional logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Beagles (P = .001), Border Collies (P = .001), Boxers (P = .032), Jack Russell Terriers (P = .001), Weimaraners (P = .048), and Whippets (P < .001) had significantly greater odds of developing SRMA in this population of dogs. Vaccination, time of year, geographic category, sex, and neuter status did not increase the odds of developing SRMA.


CONCLUSIONS
Only breed increased the odds of developing SRMA. It would be prudent to investigate the genetics of the identified breeds to help elucidate the etiopathogenesis of SRMA.
School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford Small Animal Hospital, Bristol, UK.
J H
JH
Rose
M
M
Kwiatkowska
E R
ER
Henderson
N
N
Granger
J K
JK
Murray
T R
TR
Harcourt-Brown
D000818:Animals; D001167:Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
Aseptic meningitis; Necrotizing vasculitis