EcPV2 DNA in equine squamous cell carcinomas and normal genital and ocular mucosa.

This study investigated the prevalence of Equine papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) DNA in different types of equine cancer and in healthy equine tissues, demonstrating for the first time its association with certain lesions and latent infections.

Research Goals

• The main purposes of this research were twofold: firstly, to determine the presence of EcPV2 DNA in tissue samples from equine genital and ocular squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), as well as genital papillomas and penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions; and secondly, to explore possible latent EcPV2 infections in the genital and ocular tissues of healthy horses.

Methods

• Equine tissue samples were tested for the presence of EcPV2 DNA using a procedure known as EcPV2-specific PCR.
• Moreover, swabs from the eye, penis, vulvovaginal region, and cervix of healthy horses were collected to check for latent EcPV2 infections.

Findings

• Research findings showed that EcPV2 DNA was detected in all the studied SCCs and other lesions. That includes all genital SCCs, genital papillomas, PIN lesions, as well as ocular SCCs.
• In addition, the presence of latent EcPV2 infection was detected in the genital and ocular tissues of healthy horses. Specifically, EcPV2 DNA was found in 43% of penile swabs, 53% of vulvovaginal swabs, 47% of cervical swabs, and 57% of ocular swabs.

Significance and Conclusions

• This study not only affirmed the presence of EcPV2 DNA in equine genital SCCs but also revealed its involvement in other genital tumors and ocular SCCs for the first time.
• Moreover, evidence was found for latent EcPV2 infections in normal equine genital (including cervical) and ocular tissues.
• The research provided valuable information about EcPV2, showing that even though it’s related to viruses causing skin lesions and not to high-risk human papillomaviruses implicated in cervical cancer, it may still demonstrate similar viral tropism.
• The findings underscore that having similar sites of preference (tropism) for infection does not necessarily mean viruses are closely evolutionarily related.