A cutaneous fibropapilloma from a red deer (Cervus elaphus) associated with a papillomavirus

A cutaneous fibropapilloma was found on a Scottish red deer (Cervus elaphus), and a papillomavirus was isolated from it. The virus appeared to be related to bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV1) or type 2 (BPV2) because: (i) it cross-reacted in peroxidase-antiperoxidase tests with antisera raised against these virions; (ii) BPV1 and BPV2 DNAs cross-hybridized to the red deer papillomavirus in situ; and (iii) BPV1 and/or BPV2 DNA cross-hybridized to the red deer papillomavirus DNA on Southern blots under conditions of high stringency. These tests also revealed a unique restriction enzyme cleavage pattern for the red deer papillomavirus DNA.