Bovine papillomavirus type 1 and Equus caballus papillomavirus 2 in equine squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in a Connemara mare

Abstract

In January 2010, 18 months after excision of an ocular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a Connemara mare presented with anorexia and periorbital/parotideal lesions. Post mortem examination revealed these lesions as forming one entity, with 2 additional growths in the retropharyngeal region and the left jugular groove, respectively. The lesions were confirmed histopathologically as SCCs. Using PCR, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 2008 and 2010, tumour tissue, intact skin and vulval mucosa were screened for Equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV-2) and bovine papillomavirus types 1 and 2 (BPV-1/2) DNA. Whereas PBMCs from 2008 scored negative, EcPV-2 DNA was present in PBMCs and SCCs from 2010. Furthermore, reverse transcription PCR revealed EcPV-2 E6 transcripts in these samples. BPV-1/2 DNA, but not RNA, was demonstrated in the periorbital/parotideal mass, the SCC of the jugular groove, vulval mucosa and intact skin, but not in the pharyngeal SCC and PBMCs. Sequencing revealed a 99% similarity of EcPV-2 amplicons with the published EcPV-2 sequence. BPV-1/2 amplicons corresponded to BPV type 1. This report is the first to describe co-presence of BPV-1 and EcPV-2 DNA in a pony affected by an uncommon form of nongenital SCC, and the detection of EcPV-2 transcripts in lesions and PBMCs.

Bovine papillomavirus type 2 infects the urinary bladder of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and plays a crucial role in bubaline urothelial carcinogenesis

“…In addition, BPV DNA has been identified in a squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck in a mare (Kainzbauer et al, 2012). BPV-2 is known to play a central role in bladder carcinogenesis of adult cattle reared on pasturelands rich in bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) (Campo et al, 1992;Borzacchiello et al, 2003;Wosiaki et al, 2006;Roperto et al, 2008).…”

Detection of papillomavirus in equine periocular and penile squamous cell carcinoma

“…10 There is a report of a horse with ocular and periocular SCC and the copresence of bovine papillomavirus 1 (BPV-1) and EcPV-2 DNA in the initial tumor and metastatic lesions. 8 Bovine papillomaviruses have also been associated with equine sarcoids. Periocular SCCs are common in cattle, and reports vary regarding bovine papillomavirus being associated with these lesions.…”

“…Locations of the periocular tumors included third eyelid (nictitans; 20), cornea or limbus (10), eyelid (8), and conjunctiva (4). The average age of horses with periocular SCC was 12.8 years (range 3.5-24 years).…”

Correspondence

“…Sykora et al (2012) detected EcPV-2 in one of 30 healthy nictitating membrane swabs and in one of one ocular SCCs. Kainzbauer et al (2012) detected EcPV-2 in one of one ocular SCCs. Knight et al (2013) detected EcPV-2 in 0 of 75 healthy nictitating membrane tissue sections.…”