Canine breed predispositions for marked hypocobalaminaemia or decreased folate concentration assessed by a laboratory survey

• Published in: Journal of small animal practice Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 143 - 148
• Main Authors: Dandrieux, J. R. S., Noble, P. -J. M., Halladay, L. J., McLean, L., German, A. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-03-2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Breeding; Confidence Intervals; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - genetics; Dogs; Female; Folic Acid - blood; Folic Acid Deficiency - blood; Folic Acid Deficiency - genetics; Folic Acid Deficiency - veterinary; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Male; Odds Ratio; Retrospective Studies; Vitamin B 12 - blood; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - blood; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - genetics; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - veterinary
• ISSN: 0022-4510; 1748-5827
• DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12039

Objective
The aim of this study was to determine canine breed predispositions for decreased serum folate or markedly decreased cobalamin concentrations.
Methods
Retrospective analysis of samples from dogs that had serum folate and cobalamin concentrations measured, from 1990 to 2002 at the Comparative Gastroenterology Laboratory of Liverpool, were enrolled. A total of 13,069 samples were analysed. Those with trypsin‐like immunoreactivity < 5·0 lg/L were excluded, and only breeds with at least 30 individuals tested were further analyzed. Breed predisposition was determined by calculating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for hypocobalaminaemia or decreased folate concentration. Significance was tested with a two‐sided Fisher's exact test, and the level of statistical significance was set at P<0·05.
Results
A total of 9960 dogs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Forty breeds contained at least 30 individuals. Predispositions for hypocobalaminaemia were identified in shar peis, Staffordshire bull terriers, German shepherd dogs and mixed breeds. Predispositions for decreased folate concentration were found in golden retrievers and boxers.
Clinical Significance
Predisposition for marked hypocobalaminaemia and decreased folate concentration differed between breeds. The shar peis had a markedly increased odds ratio for hypocobalaminaemia, as previously reported in North America, but other at‐risk breeds were also identified.