Intralesional bovine papillomavirus DNA loads reflect severity of equine sarcoid disease.
Abstract: Sarcoids are nonmetastasising, yet locally aggressive skin tumours that constitute the most frequent neoplasm in equids. Infection by bovine papillomaviruses types 1 and 2 (BPV-1, BPV-2) has been recognised as major causative factor in sarcoid pathogenesis, but a possible correlation of intralesional virus load with disease severity has not been established thus far. Objective: Given the pathogenic role of BPV-1 and BPV-2 in sarcoid disease, we suggest that intralesional viral DNA concentration may reflect the degree of affection. Methods: Severity of disease was addressed by recording the tumour growth kinetics, lesion number and tumour type for 37 sarcoid-bearing horses and one donkey. Viral load was estimated via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) of the E2, E5, L1 and L2 genes from the BPV-1/-2 genome for one randomly selected lesion per horse and correlated with disease severity. Results: Quantitative PCR against E2 identified viral DNA concentrations ranging from 0-556 copies/tumour cell. Of 16 horses affected by quiescent, slowly growing single tumours or multiple mild-type lesions, 15 showed a viral load up to 1.4 copies per cell. In stark contrast, all equids (22/22) bearing rapidly growing and/or multiple aggressive sarcoids had a viral load between 3 and 569 copies per cell. Consistent results were obtained with qPCR against E5, L1 and L2. Conclusions: While tumours of the same clinical type carried variable virus load, confirming that viral titre does not determine clinical appearance, we identified a highly significant correlation between intralesional viral load and disease severity. Conclusions: The rapid determination of BPV viral load will give a reliable marker for disease severity and may also be considered when establishing a therapeutic strategy.
Publication Date: 2010-06-09 PubMed ID: 20525051DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00078.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper investigates the relationship between viral DNA concentration of bovine papillomaviruses (BPV) in equine sarcoid tumors and severity of the disease in horses. Findings reveal a correlation between higher viral loads and greater disease severity, thereby indicating a possible marker for determining the severity of the disease and for developing treatment strategies.
Overview
The study focuses on equine sarcoid disease, a kind of non-metastasising but locally aggressive skin tumor that’s the most common neoplasm in equids (horses, donkeys, and zebras). Infection by bovine papillomaviruses types 1 and 2 (BPV-1, BPV-2) is a significant cause of the disease, but the relationship between the amount of virus present in the lesion and the severity of the disease has not been established.
Methodology
- The severity of the disease in 37 horses and one donkey was determined by examining tumour growth rates, the number of lesions, and the type of tumor they had.
- Viral load was estimated via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) of four genes (E2, E5, L1 and L2) in the BPV-1/-2 genome from one randomly selected lesion per horse.
- The measured viral load was then compared to the severity of the disease.
Results
- The qPCR indicated a range of concentrations of Viral DNA, from 0 to 556 copies per tumor cell.
- In horses with single, slowly growing tumors or multiple mild lesions, 15 out of 16 showed a viral load of up to 1.4 copies per cell.
- In contrast, all equids (22/22) with quickly growing and multiple aggressive sarcoids showed higher viral loads, between 3 and 569 copies per cell, irrespective of their clinical appearance.
- Similar findings were noted with qPCR testing against the other three genes (E5, L1 and L2).
Conclusions
The study concluded that there is a strong correlation between viral load in the lesion and the severity of equine sarcoid disease. It was also observed that tumors of the same clinical type carried variable virus load. Thus, while viral titre does not determine the clinical appearance, it can be a reliable marker for predicting disease severity. This information can also be used when creating a therapeutic strategy for controlling and treating the disease, potentially improving the prognosis for the affected equids.
Cite This Article
APA
Haralambus R, Burgstaller J, Klukowska-Rötzler J, Steinborn R, Buchinger S, Gerber V, Brandt S.
(2010).
Intralesional bovine papillomavirus DNA loads reflect severity of equine sarcoid disease.
Equine Vet J, 42(4), 327-331.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00078.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biotechnology in Animal Production, IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 20, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bovine papillomavirus 1 / isolation & purification
- DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Papillomavirus Infections / veterinary
- Papillomavirus Infections / virology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sarcoidosis / veterinary
- Sarcoidosis / virology
- Skin Neoplasms / veterinary
- Skin Neoplasms / virology
- Viral Load
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Hainisch EK, Jindra C, Reicher P, Miglinci L, Brodesser DM, Brandt S. Bovine Papillomavirus Type 1 or 2 Virion-Infected Primary Fibroblasts Constitute a Near-Natural Equine Sarcoid Model. Viruses 2022 Nov 28;14(12).
- Podstawski P, Ropka-Molik K, Semik-Gurgul E, Samiec M, Skrzyszowska M, Podstawski Z, Szmatoła T, Witkowski M, Pawlina-Tyszko K. Tracking the Molecular Scenarios for Tumorigenic Remodeling of Extracellular Matrix Based on Gene Expression Profiling in Equine Skin Neoplasia Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 10;23(12).
- Podstawski P, Samiec M, Skrzyszowska M, Szmatoła T, Semik-Gurgul E, Ropka-Molik K. The Induced Expression of BPV E4 Gene in Equine Adult Dermal Fibroblast Cells as a Potential Model of Skin Sarcoid-like Neoplasia. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Feb 10;23(4).
- Podstawski P, Witarski W, Szmatoła T, Bugno-Poniewierska M, Ropka-Molik K. Mobility and Invasion Related Gene Expression Patterns in Equine Sarcoid. Animals (Basel) 2020 May 19;10(5).
- Haspeslagh M, Jordana Garcia M, Vlaminck LEM, Martens AM. Topical use of 5% acyclovir cream for the treatment of occult and verrucous equine sarcoids: a double-blinded placebo-controlled study. BMC Vet Res 2017 Oct 6;13(1):296.
- Wilson AD, Hicks C. Both tumour cells and infiltrating T-cells in equine sarcoids express FOXP3 associated with an immune-supressed cytokine microenvironment. Vet Res 2016 May 9;47(1):55.
- Corteggio A, Altamura G, Roperto F, Borzacchiello G. Bovine papillomavirus E5 and E7 oncoproteins in naturally occurring tumors: are two better than one?. Infect Agent Cancer 2013 Jan 9;8(1):1.
- Smith CH, Stewart HL, Stefanovski D, Levine DG. Outcomes following autologous tumor tissue implantation with or without concurrent antineoplastic therapies in the treatment of sarcoids in 50 equids. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1559519.
- Monod A, Koch C, Jindra C, Haspeslagh M, Howald D, Wenker C, Gerber V, Rottenberg S, Hahn K. CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Targeting of BPV-1-Transformed Primary Equine Sarcoid Fibroblasts. Viruses 2023 Sep 17;15(9).
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