Spontaneous ocular squamous cell carcinoma in twin goats: pathological and biomolecular studies

Ocular squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a well-characterized tumour occurring spontaneously in cattle and other mammalian species but not previously reported in the goat. This report describes the histological features of well-differentiated OSCCs in twin goats. Biomolecular investigations led to the identification of Papillomavirus-related DNA sequences within the neoplastic ocular parenchyma of both animals, but immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies failed to demonstrate viral particles. A putative role of Papillomavirus in the aetiology of OSCC is discussed, together with other possible causative factors.