The Same Papillomavirus is Present in Feline Sarcoids from North America and New Zealand but Not in Any Non-Sarcoid Feline Samples

Abstract

Abstract. Feline sarcoids are uncommon dermal neoplasms that are associated with papillomavirus (PV) infection. A single PV type, designated feline sarcoid-associated PV (FeSarPV), was detected in 9 feline sarcoids from North America. As FeSarPV has only been detected within feline sarcoids, the epidemiology of the infection remains unknown. The present study used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate whether this PV is also present within sarcoids from New Zealand cats. Additionally, as PVs are often host-specific, it was hypothesized that FeSarPV may often asymptomatically infect cats but rarely cause disease. To test this hypothesis, specific PCR primers were designed to investigate the presence of FeSarPV DNA within 120 samples from the skin and mouth of cats without sarcoids. Feline sarcoids from both New Zealand and North America contained FeSarPV DNA sequences. However, FeSarPV DNA was not detected within any non-sarcoid feline sample. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that FeSarPV has been reported in a country outside North America. As FeSarPV does not asymptomatically infect cats, feline sarcoids are likely due to cross-species infection. Although the reservoir host of FeSarPV is unknown, the host is present and has contact with cats, in both New Zealand and North America.

Feline sarcoid in a 1-year-old domestic short-haired cat caused by bovine papillomavirus type 14 in Switzerland

“…So far, feline sarcoids were reported in North America, New Zealand, England, Sweden and Australia (Schulman et al, 2001;Munday et al, 2010). These lesions resemble those described as equine sarcoids (Gumbrell et al, 1998;Schulman et al, 2001;Gross et al, 2005).…”

“…The entire genomic sequence of PVs involved in feline sarcoids (FeSarPV) isolated from cats was re cently published and classified as a Deltapapillomavirus. However, since DNA of this virus was also amplified from samples of normal skin and fibropapillomas of cattle (Munday et al, 2010;daSilva et al, 2012), it seems likely that feline sarcoids are due to crossspecies infec tion by BPVs (Schulman et al, 2001). …”

Cutaneous Sarcoids in Captive African Lions Associated With Feline Sarcoid-Associated Papillomavirus Infection

“…7 However, in contrast to equine sarcoids in which recent studies have shown detection of BPV-1 and BPV-2 DNA in 57% of normal equine skin and dermatitis samples, indicating probable host-adapted strains, 1,2 FeSarPV was not detected in 120 samples of nonsarcoid feline samples of skin. 10 However, this cannot currently be ruled out in the affected lions, as no nonlesional skin was analyzed for FeSarPV, but it seems unlikely. A previous case report identified a similar, but not identical PV from a sarcoid in a mountain lion, 15 suggesting it is possible that 2 PVs can cause sarcoids in felids, however a different PV gene (E1) was sequenced in this case.…”

“…FJ977616). 10 The minor variation within the sequences was attributed to errors during sequencing rather than the presence of multiple PV variants.…”

“…1,3,4 In contrast, the jmpSA primers were designed to specifically amplify FeSarPV DNA. 9,10 Amplification conditions for all 3 primer sets were as previously reported, 3,4,10 and amplified fragments were visualized by electrophoresis through 1% ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels. All PCR reactions were carried out in duplicate.…”