Accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddPCR
Abstract Sarcoids are benign and locally aggressive skin lesions that commonly affect horses and other equid species. Sarcoids are generally considered to be caused by bovine delta-papillomaviruses (δPVs) types 1 and 2 (BPV1 and BPV2, respectively). Moreover, while bovine δPV types 13 and 14 (BPV13...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15353-6 |
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| author | Anna Cutarelli Alessio Buonavoglia Giovanna Fusco Roberta Pellicanò Michele Napoletano Sabine Brandt Sante Roperto |
| author_facet | Anna Cutarelli Alessio Buonavoglia Giovanna Fusco Roberta Pellicanò Michele Napoletano Sabine Brandt Sante Roperto |
| author_sort | Anna Cutarelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Sarcoids are benign and locally aggressive skin lesions that commonly affect horses and other equid species. Sarcoids are generally considered to be caused by bovine delta-papillomaviruses (δPVs) types 1 and 2 (BPV1 and BPV2, respectively). Moreover, while bovine δPV types 13 and 14 (BPV13 and BPV14, respectively) are also suspected to induce sarcoids, information regarding this possibility and the occurrence of multiple bovine δPV infections in sarcoids is scarce. This study aimed, for the first time, to assess BPV1, BPV2, BPV13, and BPV14 infections and co-infections in equine sarcoid samples of Austrian provenance, and to determine the intralesional DNA loads of the detected bovine δPV types using highly sensitive droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). BPV DNA was detected in 93 sarcoid samples. The analyses revealed that BPV1 was the predominant bovine δPV type in sarcoids from Austria, with 83/93 lesions testing BPV1-positive. Importantly, 66 tumors also contained BPV2 DNA. In six cases, a triple infection including BPV13 or BPV14 was noted, and one lesion showed a quadruple infection. This is the first ddPCR-based study to show multiple infections by all four bovine δPVs in equine sarcoids. Clinical data suggest that BPV1/2 co-infection may be associated with more severe and therapy-resistant disease. In-depth studies are required to investigate this possibility in greater detail. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-957bb3c3988c4f0cb32f3ab8057a6df9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-957bb3c3988c4f0cb32f3ab8057a6df92025-08-20T03:04:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-011511710.1038/s41598-025-15353-6Accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddPCRAnna Cutarelli0Alessio Buonavoglia1Giovanna Fusco2Roberta Pellicanò3Michele Napoletano4Sabine Brandt5Sante Roperto6Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del MezzogiornoDipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di BolognaIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del MezzogiornoIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del MezzogiornoIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del MezzogiornoResearch Group Oncology, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, Veterinary UniversityDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e delle Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico IIAbstract Sarcoids are benign and locally aggressive skin lesions that commonly affect horses and other equid species. Sarcoids are generally considered to be caused by bovine delta-papillomaviruses (δPVs) types 1 and 2 (BPV1 and BPV2, respectively). Moreover, while bovine δPV types 13 and 14 (BPV13 and BPV14, respectively) are also suspected to induce sarcoids, information regarding this possibility and the occurrence of multiple bovine δPV infections in sarcoids is scarce. This study aimed, for the first time, to assess BPV1, BPV2, BPV13, and BPV14 infections and co-infections in equine sarcoid samples of Austrian provenance, and to determine the intralesional DNA loads of the detected bovine δPV types using highly sensitive droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). BPV DNA was detected in 93 sarcoid samples. The analyses revealed that BPV1 was the predominant bovine δPV type in sarcoids from Austria, with 83/93 lesions testing BPV1-positive. Importantly, 66 tumors also contained BPV2 DNA. In six cases, a triple infection including BPV13 or BPV14 was noted, and one lesion showed a quadruple infection. This is the first ddPCR-based study to show multiple infections by all four bovine δPVs in equine sarcoids. Clinical data suggest that BPV1/2 co-infection may be associated with more severe and therapy-resistant disease. In-depth studies are required to investigate this possibility in greater detail.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15353-6Bovine papillomavirusDroplet digital PCR (ddPCR)Co-infectionHorseSarcoid |
| spellingShingle | Anna Cutarelli Alessio Buonavoglia Giovanna Fusco Roberta Pellicanò Michele Napoletano Sabine Brandt Sante Roperto Accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddPCR Scientific Reports Bovine papillomavirus Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) Co-infection Horse Sarcoid |
| title | Accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddPCR |
| title_full | Accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddPCR |
| title_fullStr | Accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddPCR |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddPCR |
| title_short | Accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddPCR |
| title_sort | accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddpcr |
| topic | Bovine papillomavirus Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) Co-infection Horse Sarcoid |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15353-6 |
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