title: U.S. military working dogs with Vietnam service: definition and characteristics of the cohort.
abstract: We verified and corrected inaccuracies in descriptive profile information on military working dogs (MWDs) that died from 1965 to 1980 and were reported in the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Registry of Veterinary Pathology. Using other available military records, we determined which dogs served in Vietnam. Identified were 3,895 MWDs with a unique identity tattoo that served in Vietnam, of which 2,389 served exclusively with U.S. military forces and died in Vietnam. Another 479 Vietnam veteran MWDs completed their service elsewhere. This overall effort resulted in signalment corrections, generally age at death, in 21% of the Registry MWD accessions during the study period. The improved definition and characterization of the Vietnam cohort will lead to greater precision in epidemiologic investigations of the health effects from the Vietnam experience in U.S. military working dogs.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tarone
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Reardon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D008887:Military Medicine; D012042:Registries; D014481:United States; D014744:Vietnam; D014857:Warfare