Association Between Serological Responses to Two Zoonotic Ruminant Pathogens and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Publisher Pubmed

Summary: Do ruminants increase cancer risk? A study found high exposure to zoonotic pathogens in ESCC patients, yet failed to link this to ruminant contact in Iran. What does this mean for cancer research? #CancerRisk #ZoonoticDiseases

Miller HK¹ ; Stoddard RA² ; Dawsey SM³ ; Nasrollahzadeh D⁴ ; Abnet CC³ ; Etemadi A^{3, 4} ; Kamangar F^{4, 5} ; Murphy G³ ; Sotoudeh M⁴ ; Kersh GJ¹ ; Malekzadeh R⁴ ; Camargo MC³
Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases Published:2021

Abstract

Questionnaire data have linked contact with ruminants to the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in high-risk Asian populations. To better understand this observed association, we investigated exposure to two major zoonotic ruminant pathogens relative to ESCC risk. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence assay, and Brucella microagglutination test assays, we measured immunoglobulin G anti-Coxiella burnetii and anti-Brucella spp. antibodies in patients with ESCC (n = 177) and population-based controls (n = 177) matched by age, gender, and residence area from the Golestan case-control study in Iran. We found a similarly high seroprevalence of C. burnetii in ESCC cases and controls (75% and 80%, respectively), and a similarly low seroprevalence of Brucella spp. (0% and 0.6%, respectively). While documenting a high exposure to one of two zoonotic ruminant infections, this exposure failed to explain the observed association of ruminant contact and ESCC risk in this high-risk population. © Copyright 2021, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 2021.