Bovine Papillomavirus Type 1 Infection in an Equine Congenital Papilloma

Abstract

Papillomas are benign epithelial lesions protruding on the epithelial surfaces as finger-like or warty projections. These lesions are often caused by papillomavirus (PV) infection. Congenital papillomas have been reported in foals. However, to date, no evidence of PV infection has been provided. In the present paper, we describe the main clinical–pathological features of a congenital papilloma observed in a foal. In addition, biomolecular tests demonstrated BPV1 infection in the case under study. Such data stimulate further investigations, even on archived samples, aiming to clarifying the etiology of equine congenital papilloma and the clinical relevance, if any, of BPV1 vertical transmission in horses.

Fetal rhabdomyoma in a Thoroughbred filly

“…Differential diagnoses for congenital soft mandibular masses in the equine neonate are limited and include vascular tumours (lymphoma/lymphosarcoma; haemangioma/haemangiosarcoma), skeletal muscle neoplasms (rhabdomyoma/rhabdomyosarcoma), tumour-like proliferations (hamartoma, angiomatosis) and other forms of neoplasia (papilloma). (Maggi et al, 2023;Jacobsen et al, 2018;Johns et al, 2005;Salazar et al, 2011;Knottenbelt et al, 2015;Leitzen et al, 2020;Johnson et al, 1996).…”