Abstract A27: Risk of hematopoietic cancer associated mortality among workers in the poultry slaughtering and processing industries.

Abstract

Objectives: Previous occupational cohort studies among poultry workers have revealed an excess risk of cancer-related mortality, including deaths due to hematopoietic malignancies. However, specific occupational and non-occupational exposures contributing to this excess risk have yet to be identified. Poultry workers are particularly at high risk since an average of 175,000 chickens are killed daily in poultry plants in the United States. This brings poultry workers into intimate contact with their blood, organs, and secretions, which may harbor transmissible oncogenic viruses. Moreover, they are exposed to potentially carcinogenic chemicals that are emitted during packaging and preparation. Hence, our study was conducted to provide preliminary evidence of which specific poultry related and non-poultry related occupational tasks increase the risk of mortality from hematopoietic cancer among poultry workers. Methods: A pilot case-cohort study was conducted using a combined cohort of 30,411 highly exposed poultry workers and 16,408 control subjects. Exposures pertaining to poultry and non-poultry related tasks were self-reported through telephone interviews from controls and next-of-kin for cases. Hematopoietic cancer mortality risk was assessed using logistic regression odds ratios (OR) and proportional hazard ratios (HR). Results: One hundred fifty-two cases of hematopoietic cancer occurred in this cohort between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2003. Since this is a feasibility study, exhaustive attempts were not made to identify study subjects and their next of kin. Thus, we report here on the first 52 (69%) of the 75 cases whose next-of-kin were traced. Similarly, of the first 214 controls that were traced, 152 (71%) completed interviews. Preliminary analysis is currently underway to identify the specific task exposures contributing to this excess risk. Conclusion: We expect the results of our study will confirm known risk factors related to hematopoietic cancers, and uncover new risk exposures that have yet to be appreciated in the general population due to their low level exposures. Using high-risk unique populations offers an opportunity to better understand molecular mechanisms that investigators may explore to aid in future drug development. Citation Format: Saritha Bangara, Martha J. Felini, Subhash Aryal, David Sterling, Eric S. Johnson. Risk of hematopoietic cancer associated mortality among workers in the poultry slaughtering and processing industries. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies; Sep 20-23, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(17 Suppl):Abstract nr A27.

Serological Investigation and Molecular Characterization of Reticuloendotheliosis Virus from Breeder Flocks in Pakistan by Polymerase Chain Reaction

“…The average age of those flocks was 30 weeks. Diseased chickens n=20 were separated from each flock and their serum and liver samples were taken for the detection of REV antibodies for ELISA and molecular characterization by PCR respectively 6 .…”

“…When REV infection occurs at an early age, it is responsible for producing T cell and B lymphomas especially with non -defective strain T. Lymphomas of B cell origin are reported to be produced by REV non defective strain (REV-T) Due to conflicting and cofounding pathogenesis and pathology associated with Common antigenicity has been discovered between the glycoprotein antigens obtained from neoplasms of chickens and antigens obtained from variety of human cancers. This suggests that retroviruses are possible etiological agents in human cancers 6 .…”