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Pet Ownership and Childhood Acute Leukemia (USA and Canada)

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Abstract

Objectives: For more than three decades there has been speculation regarding a possible role of zoonotic diseases in the development of human leukemia. This study investigated the potential relationship between exposure to pets and the development of childhood leukemia. Methods: Data from 2359 cases of acute leukemia from two large case–control studies were analyzed. Cases were individually matched to population controls on telephone exchange, age, and race. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) associated with pet ownership. Results: Overall, there was no association between pet ownership (either “any pet”, dog, or cat) and childhood acute leukemia (ORany pet:=1.01, 95% CI 0.89–1.2). Additionally, no relationship was found between exposure to an ill pet and childhood leukemia. Conclusion: The results of this analysis suggest that pet ownership (healthy or sick) is unrelated to an increased risk of childhood leukemia.

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Author notes

  1. Xiao Ou Shu

    Present address: Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA

  2. Michael Steinbuch

    Present address: Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Cincinnati, OH 45242, USA

  3. Leslie L. Robison

    Present address: University of Minnesota Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Andrine R. Swensen, Julie A. Ross, Xiao Ou Shu, Michael Steinbuch & Leslie L. Robison

  2. University of Minnesota Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Julie A. Ross

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA

    Gregory H. Reaman

Authors
  1. Andrine R. Swensen
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  2. Julie A. Ross
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  3. Xiao Ou Shu
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  4. Gregory H. Reaman
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  5. Michael Steinbuch
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  6. Leslie L. Robison
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Swensen, A.R., Ross, J.A., Shu, X.O. et al. Pet Ownership and Childhood Acute Leukemia (USA and Canada). Cancer Causes Control 12, 301–303 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011276417369

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011276417369

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