Published results can be found here.

The Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU-VBDDL) is recruiting cases for a funded research proposal investigating a potential role for vector-borne bacteria in Golden Retrievers with lymphoma. We are currently recruiting for dogs residing in the United States only.

The purpose of this study is to determine if Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and/or Anaplasma species DNA is found in a higher proportion of Golden Retrievers with lymphoma as compared to age- and sex-matched Golden Retrievers from the same geographic region. We propose to prospectively determine whether Golden Retrievers with lymphoma are more often exposed to Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma species based on testing of serum for antibodies against B. henselae, B. vinsonii, E. canis, and A. phagocytophilum and testing of whole blood for Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma species by PCR compared with a control group of dogs without signs associated with lymphoma.

Enrollment criteria:
Cases: Golden Retrievers with a new diagnosis of lymphoma, by cytological or histopathological methods, will be evaluated as case dogs. Our minimum entry criterion for a case is diagnosis of lymphoma by a board-certified clinical pathologist. These cases must not have received any antibiotics within 14 days prior to sample collection (or 30 days for azithromycin) and must not have been previously treated with chemotherapeutics.

Controls: For each case, two control Golden Retrievers will be utilized. Controls should reside within 100 miles of the case dog and ideally be age (± 18 months) and sex matched with the case. Control dogs should be healthy and must lack clinical evidence of lymphadenopathy, making the possibility of undetected lymphoma unlikely. Additionally, these dogs must not have received any antibiotics within 14 days prior to sample collection (or 30 days for azithromycin). Healthy dogs may be identified by the owner of the case dog or selected by the case's attending veterinarian. If necessary, researchers can work in conjunction with the Golden Retriever Club of America to find appropriate control animals; please contact Ashlee Duncan at (919) 513-8279 or (919) 513-8280 if you are having difficulty locating appropriate controls.

Samples: Whole blood (3 to 5 mL in apurple-topped tube), serum (1 to 3 mLin a red-topped tube), lymph node aspirates (in sterile saline), and buccal swabs (1 to 2 swabs/dog) from both cases and controls will be submitted to the NCSU-VBDDL. Additionally, copies of the cytology or biopsy report that confirmed a diagnosis of lymphoma and any laboratory test results associated with the case dog's presentation for lymphoma will be sent to the NCSU-VBDDL. Serum samples will be tested free of charge for the presence of antibodies against Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma species; blood, lymph node aspirates, and buccal swabs will be analyzed for the presence of Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma DNA utilizing a sensitive and specific PCR test.