A database survey of equine tumours in the United Kingdom.
Abstract: Survey data on equine tumours are sparse compared with other species and may have changed over time. Objective: To describe the most frequently diagnosed equine tumours recorded by a diagnostic pathology laboratory over 29 years, to identify background factors associated with tumour type, and to identify any changes in the tumours diagnosed or the background of cases submitted during the study period. Methods: Observational; cross-sectional analysis of records of a diagnostic pathology laboratory. Methods: The records of all neoplastic equine histology submissions to the University of Bristol (January 1982-December 2010) were accessed from a database, and a list of diagnoses compiled. The 6 most commonly diagnosed tumour types were analysed using logistic regression to identify background factors associated with tumour type. The overall population of equine tumour submissions and the relative frequency of diagnosis of the most common tumour types were compared between decades. Results: There were 964 cases included. The most frequently diagnosed tumours were: sarcoid (24% cases), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (19%), lymphoma (14%), melanoma (6%), gonadal stromal tumour (6%) and mast cell tumour (MCT) (4%). With sarcoid, Thoroughbred/Thoroughbred cross and gelding as reference categories: increasing age was significantly associated with the odds of each of the other tumour types, mares were at reduced risk of SCC, Arab/Arab cross had a higher risk of MCT, Cob/Cob cross had an increased risk of SCC and MCT, and ponies had an increased risk of melanoma. The mean age of submissions increased in each successive decade and the breed composition became broader. Sarcoids and lymphoma formed a smaller proportion of diagnoses in later decades. Conclusions: The types of tumours submitted to this laboratory have changed over the last 3 decades. Current data inform clinicians and researchers and further studies are warranted to follow trends.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-03-19 PubMed ID: 25594351DOI: 10.1111/evj.12421Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study surveyed information about horses’ tumors in the UK for almost three decades. Horses most commonly had six types of cancer, with some breeds being more susceptible than others. The breed and age of infected horses evolved over the study period.
Research Objective and Methodology
- The study aimed to describe the most commonly identified horse tumors in the UK, and the related background factors, using data collated over almost three decades.
- The research design was observational and used cross-sectional analysis of the records of a diagnostic pathology laboratory.
- All the records of equine histology submissions to the University of Bristol between January 1982 and December 2010 involving neoplastic cases were accessed and employed for this study.
- The six most frequently diagnosed types of horse tumor were investigated for any potential association with underlying factors such as breed and sex of the animal.
- A comparison was undertaken of the overall number of equine tumor cases and the frequency of the common tumor diagnoses across the decades.
Results
- The study included 964 cases. The most frequently diagnosed tumors were sarcoid (24%), squamous cell carcinoma (19%), lymphoma (14%), melanoma (6%), gonadal stromal tumor (6%), and mast cell tumor (4%).
- Analysis showed increased age was significantly linked to the risk of having any of these tumor types, except for sarcoid.
- Mares showed a lower risk of squamous cell carcinoma, while Arab-cross horses had a higher predisposition to mast cell tumors.
- Cob-cross horses showed a greater susceptibility to both squamous cell carcinoma and mast cell tumors, and ponies had a higher risk of melanoma.
- The average age of horses submitted for diagnosis increased with each successive decade, as did the variety of horse breeds.
- Sarcoids and lymphomas proportionately decreased in the diagnoses over time.
Conclusions
- The types of tumors diagnosed at this laboratory changed over the nearly three decades of study.
- This database and study provide valuable information to veterinary clinicians and researchers to inform their work.
- Continued studies are advised to recognize and track trends in equine tumor occurrence for more effective detection, treatment, and prevention strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Knowles EJ, Tremaine WH, Pearson GR, Mair TS.
(2015).
A database survey of equine tumours in the United Kingdom.
Equine Vet J, 48(3), 280-284.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12421 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Mereworth, UK.
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
- Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Mereworth, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Databases, Factual
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Neoplasms / diagnosis
- Neoplasms / epidemiology
- Neoplasms / pathology
- Neoplasms / veterinary
- Risk Factors
- United Kingdom / epidemiology
Citations
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