Equine sarcoids from Southern Italy: Molecular and Histopathological characterization

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Dermatology
• Virology
• Oncology

Background:

• Equine sarcoids are the most common equine tumor.
• Bovine papillomaviruses (BPV) are implicated in equine sarcoid development.
• Understanding BPV genotype prevalence is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of specific BPV genotypes (BPV-1, BPV-2, BPV-13, BPV-14) in equine skin lesions.
• To analyze the histopathological features of these lesions and their correlation with BPV infection.
• To explore the potential pathogenic roles of different BPV genotypes in equine skin conditions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 63 equine skin samples from Southern Italy using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing for BPV detection.
• Histopathological assessment of skin lesions to identify sarcoid features, fibroblastic atypia, and extracellular matrix deposition.
• Statistical analysis to determine correlations between BPV genotypes and histopathological findings.

Main Results:

• BPV DNA was detected in 69.84% of equine skin samples.
• BPV-1 and BPV-2 were the most prevalent genotypes; BPV-13 was detected, while BPV-14 was not found.
• BPV DNA was present in sarcoids, other tumors, and non-neoplastic conditions. BPV-1 infection showed association with more severe fibroblastic atypia and matrix deposition.

Conclusions:

• This study confirms the significant prevalence of BPV, particularly BPV-1 and BPV-2, in various equine skin lesions.
• While no direct statistical correlation was found between BPV genotypes and histopathological features, BPV-1 may contribute to more aggressive sarcoid characteristics.
• Further research is essential to elucidate the precise pathogenic mechanisms of different BPV genotypes and develop targeted therapeutic strategies for equine skin diseases.