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Published on: September 7, 2013
Environmental risk factors for UV-induced cutaneous neoplasia in horses: A GIS approach
Mayra Ramirez1, Colleen Duncan1, Paula A Schaffer1
1Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences (Ramirez, Magzamen) and Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Duncan, Schaffer), Colorado State University, 1681 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA; Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Wobeser).
Objective:
Ultraviolet light (UV) is a risk factor for the development of cutaneous neoplasia in many mammalian species. This study evaluated UV exposure as a risk factor of concern for the development of cutaneous neoplasia in equine species due to the significant UV exposure that may accrue over their lifetimes.
Animals And Samples:
Neoplastic biopsy specimens from 3272 horses that were submitted over a 10-year period to the Colorado State University Diagnostic Medicine Center and to the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Prairie Diagnostic Services were evaluated.
Procedure:
This retrospective study assessed the spatial relationships between altitude, latitude, longitude, and UV maximum value and the probability of UV-induced cutaneous neoplasia.
Results:
Cases from areas at high altitude proved to have a higher prevalence of UV-induced cutaneous neoplasia than those from areas at lower elevations. A multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that altitude was the only factor significantly and positively associated with the diagnosis of UV-induced neoplasia.
Conclusion And Clinical Relevance:
Evidence of cutaneous neoplasia in horses and environmental factors that influence the degree of UV exposure in a geographic location may aid in diagnosis and suggest preventive measures from UV overexposure.
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