Topical flea and tick pesticides and the risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether use of topical flea and tick products increases the risk of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
87 adult Scottish Terriers with TCC (cases) and 83 adult Scottish Terriers with other health-related conditions (controls).


METHODS
Owners of study dogs were recruited through private veterinary practices and the Scottish Terrier Club of America. History of exposure to flea and tick products 1 year prior to diagnosis of TCC for case dogs and during a comparable period for control dogs was obtained through a questionnaire. Risk of TCC associated with exposure to flea and tick products was determined by means of univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
After adjustment for host factors, Scottish Terriers treated with topical spot-on flea and tick products containing fipronil or imidacloprid did not have an increased risk of TCC, compared with Scottish Terriers that had never been exposed to any flea and tick products. The risk of TCC associated with use of older topical flea and tick products such as shampoos, dips, powders, sprays, and collars could not be evaluated because of the low number of owners in the study population that had used such products.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that use of topical spot-on flea and tick products does not increase the risk of TCC in Scottish Terriers.
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2027, USA.
Malathi
M
Raghavan
Deborah W
DW
Knapp
Marcia H
MH
Dawson
Patty L
PL
Bonney
Lawrence T
LT
Glickman
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
D007306:Insecticides