VETERINARY CANCER-EPIDEMIOLOGY

This paper reviews the impact of veterinary cancer epidemiology on vet erinary oncology, human oncology, comparative oncology, and on the eti ology and pathogenesis of cancer. The detection of clusters of disease d animals has led to the discovery of the infectious, viral-associated nature of malignant lymphoma of cats, poultry, and cattle. Although s ome viruses (FeLV, BLV) can, under experimental conditions, cross the species barrier, there is thus far no evidence for a zoonotic hazard f or the human. The keeping of petbirds or pigeons was found to be assoc iated with an increased risk of lung cancer in the bird keepers. Dogs appear to be useful 'sentinels' for environmental hazards (asbestos, d yes, passive smoking, insecticides). The complex pathogenesis of cance r was dissected in an epidemiologic-experimental study in cows, which had intestinal papillomas and carcinomas. Endogenous genetic factors m ay also play a role in pathogenesis, as is evidenced by species, breed (Boxer!), and family related aggregates of tumour diseases. Epidemiol ogy may provide a means to prevent tumour diseases by, for example, wi thdrawal of hormones (mammary cancer) or isolation of tumour-virus pos itive animals (malignant lymphoma).