OCULAR SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA IN SIMMENTAL CATTLE IN ZIMBABWE

In Zimbabwe, ocular squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was frequently obse rved in 5 breeding herds of Simmental cattle, a Bos taurus breed origi nating from Switzerland. In these herds, initial signs of OSCC were al ready noticeable in cattle about 3 years old. Gradually, OSCC prevalen ce increased, and 36 to 53% of cattle over 7 years old had 1 or more t umors. More tumors developed in Simmental cattle with periorbital whit e skin than in cattle with periorbital pigmented skin. Other breeds of cattle leg, Friesian) also are partly white-faced and live in Zimbabw e in a comparable environment; yet, OSCC prevalence was lower in those breeds.