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Abstract

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is manifested by pruritus and inflammation of the skin, and most affected dogs have specific I-E against environmental allergens. Our aim was to evaluate whether in Sweden the incidence of CAD varies spatially, and to investigate possible environmental causes of such variation in a longitudinal study of CAD incidence among insured Swedish dogs. The dataset consisted of > 220,000 individuals which had been covered by an insurance plan between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2002. Out of these, 1235 CAD cases were identified and matched to postal-code areas based upon the address of the owner. Environmental risk factors we considered included averages of long-term annual rainfall, and of January and July temperatures. Initial visualization of the incidence rate of CAD (cases/dog-years at risk) expressed as empirical Bayes smoothed spatial rates indicated geographic variation. Moran's 1, adjusted for population at risk, revealed significant global clustering. Both the spatial scan statistic and a local indicator of spatial autocorrelation revealed a higher incidence of CAD in the major cities. In a Poisson-regression model (with a spatial covariance structure), the incidence of CAD increased with increasing human population density, increasing average annual rainfall, living in the southern half of Sweden, and having a veterinary dermatologist in the county. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Published in

Preventive Veterinary Medicine
2007, volume: 78, number: 3-4, pages: 210-222
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2006.10.007

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/14013