Development of a canine model for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

A canine model for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) was developed with canine oral papillomavirus (COPV) inoculated into the buccal mucosa and supraglottic larynx of 5 beagles. The animals received systemic immunosuppression with daily oral prednisone at doses of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg/kg. Buccal papillomata developed at 6 weeks in all animals and regressed by 10 weeks in the animals that received 0 and 1 mg/kg. The other animals had continuous growth of their buccal papillomata for 26 weeks. The animal that received 2 mg/kg developed papillomata on the lingual surface of the epiglottis that continued to grow through 26 weeks. Systemic oral prednisone successfully maintained COPV-induced oral and laryngeal papillomata in beagles. Thus, COPV-induced oral and laryngeal papillomata that are prednisone-maintained may have utility as a model for RRP.