The role of vector-borne pathogens and cardiac Striatin genotype on survival in boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Introduction/Objectives

Risk factors for severe disease in boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) are not well understood. This study's objective was to determine whether Striatin genotype or canine vector-borne pathogen (CVBP) exposure/infection in boxer dogs with ARVC was associated with disease severity or survival.

Animals

Sixty-four client-owned, adult boxer dogs with ARVC were included in the study.

Materials and Methods

This was a prospective descriptive study. Disease severity was determined by echocardiography and Holter monitoring. Potential risk factors included CVBP exposure/infection (Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia spp., and Rickettsia spp.) and Striatin genotype.

Results

The median survival time after enrollment was 270 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 226–798 days), and the median age at the time of death or censoring was 11 years (95% CI: 10.3–11.7 years). Striatin mutation genotype results included 31 homozygous-negative, 26 heterozygous-positive, and seven homozygous-positive boxer dogs. Ten boxer dogs had exposure to Bartonella spp., four to Rickettsia, two to Ehrlichia spp., and one to Anaplasma spp. Striatin homozygous–positive boxer dogs had a shorter median survival time (93 days vs. 373 days for heterozygous [P=0.010] and 214 days for homozygous negative [P=0.036]). Exposure/infection to CVBP was not associated with median survival time or age at the time of death.

Discussion

Striatin homozygous positive boxer dogs with ARVC had shorter survival times and were younger at the time of death. Exposure or infection with CVBP did not appear to influence survival time.

Study Limitations

Selection bias for more severe disease limited the ability to assess the relationship between CVBP infection/exposure and disease severity, and overall small sample size limited statistical power. Extracardiac disease and treatment protocols were not controlled.

Conclusions

Striatin genotype screening can be considered for prognostic information. Exposure/infection to CVBP appears unlikely to influence survival time for boxer dogs with ARVC.