title: Prevalence and risk factors for mast cell tumours in dogs in England.
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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT England.
authors.forename: Stephanie Jw
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shoop
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Population Health, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield Herts, AL9 7TA England.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marlow
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Group, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield Herts, AL9 7TA England.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Church
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Pathogen Biology, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield Herts, AL9 7TA England.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: English
authors.affiliation: R.M.C. Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McGreevy
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Group, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield Herts, AL9 7TA England.
authors.forename: Anneliese J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stell
authors.affiliation: R.M.C. Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Population Health, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield Herts, AL9 7TA England.
authors.forename: Dan G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Population Health, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield Herts, AL9 7TA England.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Brodbelt
keywords: Canine; Epidemiology; Mast cell; Mastocytoma; Oncology; Prevalence; Primary-care practice