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 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.
© 2025. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2025-08-11 PubMed ID: 40790360PubMed Central: PMC12340048DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-15353-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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Overview
- This study investigates the presence and quantity of four bovine deltapapillomavirus (δPV) types (BPV1, BPV2, BPV13, and BPV14) in equine sarcoids, which are common skin tumors in horses.
- Using a sensitive detection method called droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), the research identifies single and multiple infections and explores their potential clinical significance.
Background
- Sarcoids are benign but locally aggressive skin tumors frequently found in horses and related species.
- These tumors are typically linked to infections by bovine deltapapillomaviruses, particularly BPV1 and BPV2.
- BPV13 and BPV14 have also been implicated as possible causative agents, though evidence is limited.
- Understanding the types of viral infections and co-infections in sarcoids can help clarify the disease mechanisms and improve treatment strategies.
Objective
- To provide the first comprehensive assessment of BPV1, BPV2, BPV13, and BPV14 infections in Austrian equine sarcoid samples.
- To quantify intralesional viral DNA loads using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), a method enabling precise and highly sensitive detection of viral DNA.
- To evaluate whether co-infections with multiple bovine δPVs occur and if such co-infections correlate with disease severity or treatment resistance.
Methods
- Sample collection: 93 sarcoid tissue samples were collected from horses in Austria.
- Detection technique: Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was employed to identify and quantify the DNA of BPV1, BPV2, BPV13, and BPV14 within the lesions.
- Data analysis focused on identifying single vs. multiple δPV infections and measuring viral load per sample.
Key Findings
- High prevalence of BPV DNA was observed in the sarcoid samples, confirming the viral association with these tumors.
- BPV1 was the most common virus detected, present in 83 out of 93 lesions.
- BPV2 DNA was also frequently identified, found in 66 of these BPV1-positive tumors, indicating frequent co-infections.
- In six cases, triple infections including either BPV13 or BPV14 were detected, and one lesion showed the presence of all four types (quadruple infection).
- This study is the first to use ddPCR to demonstrate simultaneous infections by all four bovine δPVs in equine sarcoids.
- Preliminary clinical observations suggest that co-infections with BPV1 and BPV2 may be linked to more severe and therapy-resistant sarcoids.
Implications
- The presence of multiple δPV infections could influence the biological behavior of sarcoids and affect treatment outcomes.
- The use of ddPCR establishes a more sensitive and quantitative approach to detect and study papillomavirus infections in veterinary dermatology.
- These findings highlight the need for further research to understand how viral co-infections contribute to tumor pathogenesis and resistance to therapy.
Conclusion
- The research expands the knowledge of viral involvement in equine sarcoids by confirming frequent multiple δPV infections with BPV1, BPV2, BPV13, and BPV14.
- Enhanced diagnostic techniques like ddPCR can improve detection accuracy and help in assessing the clinical impact of these infections.
- Future studies are necessary to determine the exact role of these multiple viral infections in disease progression and treatment resistance in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Cutarelli A, Buonavoglia A, Fusco G, Pellicanò R, Napoletano M, Brandt S, Roperto S.
(2025).
Accurate identification of bovine deltapapillomavirus in equine sarcoids by ddPCR.
Sci Rep, 15(1), 29414.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15353-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, Naples, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, Naples, Italy.
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, Naples, Italy.
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, Naples, Italy.
- Research Group Oncology, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, Veterinary University, Vienna, Austria.
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e delle Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy. sante.roperto@unina.it.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Cattle
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Papillomavirus Infections / veterinary
- Papillomavirus Infections / virology
- Papillomavirus Infections / diagnosis
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
- DNA, Viral / genetics
- Skin Neoplasms / virology
- Skin Neoplasms / veterinary
- Deltapapillomavirus / genetics
- Deltapapillomavirus / isolation & purification
- Bovine papillomavirus 1 / genetics
- Bovine papillomavirus 1 / isolation & purification
- Austria
- Coinfection / virology
- Coinfection / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics declaration: The animal collection and handling and tissue sampling procedures were performed in accordance with the ethics guidelines of the Veterinary University Vienna and Austrian Law. Animal studies performed in Naples were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (Protocol PG/2024/0023599, Naples University Federico II). Permission to collect samples was obtained from the animals’ owners who were previously informed and in agreement with the purpose and methods used.
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