Felis catus papillomavirus type‐2 but not type‐1 is detectable and transcriptionally active in the blood of healthy cats. Issue 2 (30th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Altamura, G.; Jebara, G.; Cardeti, G.; Borzacchiello, G.
• Is Part Of: Transboundary and emerging diseases. Volume 65:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 497
• Page End: 503
• Publication Date: 2017-10-30
• Subjects: blood -- FcaPV‐1 -- FcaPV‐2 -- feline -- gene expression -- papillomavirus; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12732
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1865-1674

Abstract

Summary: Papillomaviruses (PVs) are small DNA viruses that induce benign and/or malignant epithelial tumours in different species, including the domestic cat ( Felis catus ). To date, five F. catus papillomavirus genotypes have been identified (FcaPV‐1 to FcaPV‐5). FcaPV‐1 is associated with skin and oral benign lesions, while FcaPV‐2 infection is widely associated with feline squamous cell carcinomas. Several human and animal PVs have been found in body fluids such as peripheral blood; however, the presence of FcaPVs in non‐epithelial tissues has not previously been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and gene expression of FcaPV‐1 and FcaPV‐2 in the blood of healthy cats. We detected FcaPV‐2 DNA in 26 of 103 (25%) blood samples. Importantly, FcaPV‐2 L1, E2, E6 and E7 genes were found to be expressed in 3 (25%), 11 (92%), 6 (50%) and 5 (42%) of the samples available for mRNA analysis, respectively. FcaPV‐1 was not detected in any of the blood samples analysed here. The data obtained in this work suggest active and eventually productive infection of FcaPV‐2 in the blood of healthy cats, implying a possible role in intra‐individual spreading as well as in vertical and horizontal transmission.