Bioaccumulation of pesticide contaminants in tissue matrices of dogs suffering from malignant canine mammary tumors in Punjab, India

Abstract

The unprecedented application of pesticides in Punjab, India during green revolution has lead to an environmental crisis due to the accumulation of persistent organic and pesticide pollutants in the environment and biota of this region. The present study aimed at estimating the abundance of pesticide contaminants in three biological matrices of 36 dogs suffering from malignant canine mammary tumor (mCMT) and 6 tumor free control dogs from Punjab, India. Presence of individual and total pesticides in canine biological samples, age and bodyweight of canine patients was assessed as a potential risk factor for mCMT using logistic regression analysis. Chi-square test was employed to determine tissue-specific accumulations of individual pesticides. Spearman's correlation coefficient was estimated to determine the association between the levels of total pesticides in different tissue matrices and with age and bodyweight of mCMT cases. Gas chromatography-ECD analysis of serum, mammary tissue and adjoining mammary adipose tissue revealed fourteen different pesticides including γ-HCH, α-HCH, dieldrin, aldrin, heptachlor, butachlor, p,p-DDT, o,p-DDT, p,p-DDD, p,p-DDE, L-cyhalothrin, permethrin, fipronil, and fenitrothion. Heptachlor, γ-HCH, aldrin and p,p-DDT were more frequently detected, whereas, p,p-DDE and o,p-DDT were the least common. Differential accumulation of pesticides in tissue matrices, particularly between serum and mammary tissue/adipose tissue was observed. We could not find any association between the total pesticide concentrations among serum, mammary tissue and mammary adipose tissue in mCMT cases. We found that the odds for individual pesticide for serum, mammary tissue and adipose tissue were associated with high uncertainties; however, the total pesticide concentration in mammary tissue was near non-significantly associated with higher risk of mCMT with low uncertainty. Statistically non-significant higher odds of CMT occurrence with increase in age was noticed No association between the concentration of total pesticides in different matrices and age and bodyweight of canine subjects was found.

An assessment of exposure to several classes of pesticides in pet dogs and cats from New York, United States

“…Dogs and cats develop chronic diseases similar to those of humans but with a shorter latency period ( Knapp et al, 2013 ). Pesticide exposure in dogs and cats has been linked to mammary cancer ( Gautam et al, 2020 ), lymphoma ( Takashima-Uebelhoer et al, 2012 ), bladder cancer ( Glickman et al, 2004 ), and oral squamous cell carcinoma ( Bertone et al, 2003 ), reflecting effects similar to those reported in human studies ( Calaf, 2021 ; Fritschi et al, 2005 ; Koutros et al, 2016 ). Nevertheless, studies reporting the occurrence of pesticides in dog urine are limited ( Forster et al, 2014 ; Karthikraj and Kannan, 2019 ; Knapp et al, 2013 ; Reynolds et al, 1994 ; Wise et al, 2022 ), and no previous studies have determined the exposure of cats to OPs, neonics, PYRs, or PAs.…”

Comparative Assessment of Pesticide Exposures in Domestic Dogs and Their Owners Using Silicone Passive Samplers and Biomonitoring

“…Environmental exposures to various pesticides have been linked to many chronic diseases, including various cancers, diabetes, reproductive and neurological diseases, and birth defects. − However, such exposures are not only a human health concern but they also present a veterinary health concern. Estimates suggest that between 38 and 50% of U.S. households have at least one pet dog. , Pesticide exposure has been linked to several diseases in pet dogs including lymphoma, − mammary, and bladder cancers. , Pesticides used in lawn care, particularly the herbicide 2,4-D, have been reported to be associated with lymphoma in dogs. − Dogs in India with mammary cancer had higher levels of total pesticides (which include fipronil and permethrin) measured in mammary tissues (β = 4.99) . Also, two studies have reported that dogs diagnosed with bladder cancer (transitional cell carcinoma) were significantly more likely to experience greater exposure to household insecticides , and lawn herbicides, particularly phenoxy herbicides .…”

“…Estimates suggest that between 38 and 50% of U.S. households have at least one pet dog. 11,12 Pesticide exposure has been linked to several diseases in pet dogs including lymphoma, 13−16 mammary, 17 and bladder cancers. 18,19 Pesticides used in lawn care, particularly the herbicide 2,4-D, have been reported to be associated with lymphoma in dogs.…”

“…13−16 Dogs in India with mammary cancer had higher levels of total pesticides (which include fipronil and permethrin) measured in mammary tissues (β = 4.99). 17 Also, two studies have reported that dogs diagnosed with bladder cancer (transitional cell carcinoma) were significantly more likely to experience greater exposure to household insecticides 18,19 and lawn herbicides, particularly phenoxy herbicides. 19 The value of investigating chronic diseases in dogs, particularly cancer, is increasingly being recognized by researchers to aid in both drug development and therapeutics and also to further our understanding of genomic (e.g., single-nucleotide polymorphisms) and environmental (e.g., exposures) risk factors.…”

Microbial Degradation of Aldrin and Dieldrin: Mechanisms and Biochemical Pathways

“…When rats were exposed to aldrin over a period of time, the relative liver weight increased significantly, and the survival rate of female rats decreased ( Adam et al, 2015 ). In Punjab, India, bioaccumulation of 14 pesticides, including dieldrin and aldrin, has been found in the tissue stroma of dogs with malignant canine breast tumors ( Gautam et al, 2020 ).…”