Prevalence Study and Diagnostic Evaluation of Cancer in Animal

Abstract

Cancer is an increasingly recognized clinical concern in veterinary medicine, necessitating accurate epidemiological and diagnostic evaluation. This study investigates the similar profiles of neoplastic diseases in animals presented to veterinary facilities. A prospective analysis was conducted to assess species-wise and sex-wise distribution of cancer cases, classify tumours based on malignancy, and evaluate diagnostic markers and tools at SAQTVH, CVASU. Among the 56 recorded cases, dogs represented the highest proportion of neoplasms (66.67%), followed by cats (16.67%) and ruminants (16.67%). A higher incidence was noted in females (62.5%) compared to males (37.5%). Malignant tumours (87.5%) accounted for a significant majority, highlighting the aggressive nature of most detected neoplasms. Diagnostic evaluation included FNAC and histopathological correlation, showing a strong concordance in lesion classification. Different histopathological types of mammary carcinoma were identified, including papillary, ductal, adenoid, and metaplastic subtypes both in canine and feline populations. Other neoplasms encountered included squamous cell carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, fibroma, canine venereal tumours, spindle cell tumour and lipoma. Biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were assessed, revealing elevated levels in most malignant cases, supporting their role as supportive diagnostic indicators. CRP levels were significantly elevated in cancer affected dogs (2.01 ± 0.80) and cats (1.80 ± 0.48) compared to both control and non-cancer cases (p < 0.05). Similarly, a marked elevation in ESR levels was observed in dogs and cats with cancer compared to non-cancer and control groups, with mean values of 42.07 ± 10.20 in dogs and 45.75 ± 2.21 in cats (p < 0.05), further supporting its association with malignancy. Although this was a limited hospital-based pilot study, it highlights the urgent need for comprehensive epidemiological data to understand the true burden of neoplasia in animal in Bangladesh. These findings further emphasize the need for routine cancer surveillance in animals and demonstrate the utility of combined diagnostic modalities for improved and early cancer detection and classification.