Investigation of Equus caballus papillomavirus type-2 (EcPV-2) in asymptomatic and symptomatic horses
type: CreativeWork
description: Papillomavirus (PV)-associated cancers are a well-recognized entity in humans as well as domestic and wild animals. Equus caballus papillomavirus type-2 (EcPV-2) has recently been recognized as a potential cause of genital squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in horses. However, little is currently understood regarding EcPV-2 in terms of exposure, transmission, persistent infection, clearance, interactions with host immune and cell proliferation pathways, nor its prognostic impact on clinical outcome – all critical information required for the development and application of meaningful diagnostic, therapeutic, prognostic and preventative measures. The current working theory of EcPV-2 in horses is that asymptomatic infection is rare, the virus shows strict genital tropism, transmission is via sexual contact, and EcPV-2 is a causal factor in genital SCCs, but not non-genital lesions. Here we review the current understanding of PV-associated cancer as it pertains to the better understood human papillomavirus (HPV) and bovine papillomavirus (BPV). We also highlight deficits in the literature as they relate specifically to EcPV-2 and horses. In Chapters 2 and 3, we use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and RNA- in situ hybridization (R-ISH) to show that asymptomatic EcPV-2 infection, and genital SCC-associated EcPV-2 infections, are statistically similar amongst Western Canadian horses. Similarly, we show that EcPV-2 exposure, as measured by serology, is also not infrequent. We also identify in utero and aborted fetuses infected with EcPV-2. In Chapter 3, we measure clinical outcome (overall survival time) through the use of a retrospective survey, issued to Western Canadian veterinary practitioners. We show that the EcPV-2 status of genital SCCs is not a prognosticating factor. We identify treatment status and recurrence as major prognosticating factors, whereas histologic grade, treatment type, duration of lesions, and co-morbidity are not. In Chapter 4, we use a more extensiv…
abstract: Papillomavirus (PV)-associated cancers are a well-recognized entity in humans as well as domestic and wild animals. Equus caballus papillomavirus type-2 (EcPV-2) has recently been recognized as a potential cause of genital squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in horses. However, little is currently understood regarding EcPV-2 in terms of exposure, transmission, persistent infection, clearance, interactions with host immune and cell proliferation pathways, nor its prognostic impact on clinical outcome – all critical information required for the development and application of meaningful diagnostic, therapeutic, prognostic and preventative measures. The current working theory of EcPV-2 in horses is that asymptomatic infection is rare, the virus shows strict genital tropism, transmission is via sexual contact, and EcPV-2 is a causal factor in genital SCCs, but not non-genital lesions. Here we review the current understanding of PV-associated cancer as it pertains to the better understood human papillomavirus (HPV) and bovine papillomavirus (BPV). We also highlight deficits in the literature as they relate specifically to EcPV-2 and horses. In Chapters 2 and 3, we use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and RNA- in situ hybridization (R-ISH) to show that asymptomatic EcPV-2 infection, and genital SCC-associated EcPV-2 infections, are statistically similar amongst Western Canadian horses. Similarly, we show that EcPV-2 exposure, as measured by serology, is also not infrequent. We also identify in utero and aborted fetuses infected with EcPV-2. In Chapter 3, we measure clinical outcome (overall survival time) through the use of a retrospective survey, issued to Western Canadian veterinary practitioners. We show that the EcPV-2 status of genital SCCs is not a prognosticating factor. We identify treatment status and recurrence as major prognosticating factors, whereas histologic grade, treatment type, duration of lesions, and co-morbidity are not. In Chapter 4, we use a more extensiv…
author: Greenwood, Sarah Ann
keywords: Equus caballus papillomavirus type-2 (EcPV-2), horse, PCR, R-ISH, IHC
date published: 2020-08-17
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:27:18Z
provider: University of Saskatchewan
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Saskatchewan

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10388/12966