Animals as Sentinels of Environmental Health Hazards (1991) / Chapter Skim
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4. Companion Animals as Sentinels
4. Companion Animals as Sentinels
Pages 69-80
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From page 69... ...
For example, pet dogs have been used as surrogate monitors of human exposure to asbestos (Glickman et al., 1983) and lead (Thomas et al., 1976; Kucera, 1988~; studies are under way with dogs as surrogate monitors of human exposure to tetrachlorodibenzopdioxin (Schilling and Stehr-Green, 1987)
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From page 70... ...
Data from the VMDP were used to calculate PMRs for animal cancers by site or type for 8,760 pet dogs (Hayes et al., 1981~. A significant positive correlation was noted between the PMRs for canine bladder cancer and overaD industrial activity in the host county of the veterinary school.
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From page 71... ...
Systematic evaluation of reported animal toxicoses might permit identification of unsuspected hazards in the human environment that might otherwise go unnoticed. ANALY7IC EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES Canine Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Epidemiologic evidence indicates that asbestos is a causal factor in human mesothelioma and that the latent period for cancer development after occupational exposure usually exceeds 20 years (Selikoff et al., 1980~.
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From page 72... ...
Histologically confirmed transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder was diagnosed in 89 pet dogs from January 1982 to June 1985 at the Veterinary Hospital and Surgical Pathology Service of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
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From page 73... ...
Source: Glickman, 1989. TABLE 43 Odds Ratios for Insecticide Exposure, Body Conformation, and Risk of Transistional-Cell Carcinoma in Pet Dogs Tick- and Flea-Dip Exposure Body Conformation No Yes Thin or average 1.0 1.4 (11/24)
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From page 74... ...
A 1987 survey of California pet handlers revealed numerous symptoms associated with occupational exposure to flea-control products (Ames et al., 1989~. The information from this survey has direct human health implications, in that the ingredients in tick and flea dips are commonly used as indoor and outdoor household insecticides.
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From page 75... ...
modulates hormonal concentrations at a critical period in reproductive development and thus modifies the risk of breast cancer. Diet and Survival with Breast Cancer Recent studies examining the relationship between dietary habits and prognostic factors for breast cancer in women suggest that the dietary patterns of the western world c.g., high intake of fat and low intake of carbohydrates and fiber—affect some prognostic factors in breast cancer, such as tumor size and estrogen-receptor content of the tumor (Holm et al., 1989~.
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From page 76... ...
Animal sentinel data can help to define the relationship between dietary fat and human breast cancer, and they might provide a useful model to clarify the nature of the association between increased fat consumption and risk of developing breast cancer and help to improve disease management after traditional treatments. Birds and PotytetraJluoroe~ylene Exposure Blandford et al.
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From page 77... ...
Animal Neoplasm Registry As described in Chapter 3, National Animal Poison Information Network and VMDP collect data on animals, some of which are companion animals. Another program, the Animal Neoplasm Registry (ANR)
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From page 78... ...
No difference was found in human cancer rates between the case and control households. Followup analytic epidemiologic studies of cancer cases in animals identified through the ANR have found neither common determinants of cancer in humans and animals nor a cancer-causing agent that was transmissible from
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From page 79... ...
The ANR did provide information on risk factors for some animal neoplasms, such as breast cancer, and suggested preventive methods.
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From page 80... ...
Despite those advantages, limitations of animal sentinel studies are evident. Use of veterinary epidemiologic data permits collection of data on a large number of cases; but the data must represent minimal estimates, because the number of cases not diagnosed cannot be known.
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