Patterns of cancer in geographic and endogamous subdivisions of the Hutterite Brethren of Canada

Abstract

The Hutterite Brethren comprise a religious isolate and live on communal agricultural farms (colonies) in North America. In 1976 there were approximately 15,000 Canadian Brethren living in 179 colonies of the three endogamous subdivisions, the Dariusleut, Lehrerleut, and Schmiedeleut. Dariusleut and Lehrerleut colonies are located in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the Schmiedeleut are in Manitoba. Brethren were identified on population-based cancer registries of the three Prairie Provinces and among death registrations in the vital statistics of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The method of ascertainment was by a search for the 15 contemporary surnames and verification by address. 89 male and 91 female Brethren were identified who had cancer during the period, 1956--1975. The numbers of observed cancers were less than expected from provincial incidence rates for males and females in each province. The largest deficits were for female Brethren in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. There is a marked deficiency of cancer of the uterine cervix among female Brethren. In males there is a significant deficit of lung cancer. The Hutterite way of life contributes to a low risk for cancers of smoking-associated sites. However, there is evidence that male Brethren in Alberta may be at relatively increased risk for stomach cancer and leukemias. The site distribution patterns of cancers among the three endogamous leut are similar.

Sur la distribution spatiale des gènes délétères dans la région du Saguenay (XIXe et XXe siècles)

“…Sur un second plan, qui relève de la recherche appliquée, on s'intéresse en particulier à la diffusion de gènes délétères afin de localiser le risque des génopathies dans une population. Il peut arriver que ce risque soit très facile à localiser; c'est souvent le cas avec des minorités et des isolats ethniques ou religieux comme les Amish (McKusickefa/, 1985), les Huttérites (Morgan et al, 1983) ou les communautés ethniques, juives notamment. Ces dernières sont en effet étroitement associées à la maladie de Tay-Sachs, ce qui a donné lieu à des démarches préventives de type «community approach» (cf.…”

History and relevance of the Hutterite population for genetic studies

“…W.W. Howells of Harvard University supervised the physical anthropological aspects of the study. Among those who assisted in the Steinberg effort or who have subsequently published their findings are: Bleibtreu [ 19641, Hartzog [ 19711, Mange [ 19641, McKusick and Rimoin [ 19671, Martin [1969], Morgan [1983], Morgan and Holmes [1980], Olsen 119761, Sheps [ 19651, and others. Today there are many studies in the area of medical genetics. Our knowledge of Hutterite demography and health-related problems has been greatly advanced through both regional and overall teamwork on the interaction between environmental and hereditary factors, thanks to the generous help and cooperation of the Hutterian Brethren themselves.…”