Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Papillomavirus DNA found in a cat's oral cancer tumor
By Munday, J S et al.·Published in Research in veterinary science·2009·Department of Pathobiology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Detection of papillomaviral DNA sequences in a feline oral squamous cell carcinoma.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that a cat with oral squamous cell carcinoma (a type of mouth cancer) had DNA from a papillomavirus, which is a virus that can cause similar cancers in humans. Researchers tested 20 cases of this cancer and 20 non-cancerous oral lesions in cats, and they only found the virus in the cancerous tissue. However, the presence of the virus does not mean it causes the cancer, as it was not found in any of the non-cancerous lesions. This is the first time this type of viral DNA has been detected in a cat's mouth.
People also search for: cat mouth cancer symptoms · feline oral squamous cell carcinoma treatment · papillomavirus in cats
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) are common and often fatal feline neoplasms. Factors that predispose to neoplasm development in cats are poorly defined. Around 25% of human OSCCs are caused by papillomaviruses (PVs). To determine if PVs are associated with OSCCs in cats, three sets of consensus primers were used to evaluate 20 feline OSCCs and 20 non-neoplastic feline oral lesions for the presence of PV DNA. Papillomaviral sequences were detected within one OSCC, but no non-neoplastic lesion. Sequencing of the amplified DNA revealed a previously unreported PV that was most similar to human PV type 76. This is the first time PV DNA has been amplified from the oral cavity of a cat. However, while these results suggest that feline gingival epithelial cells can be infected by PVs, they do not support a causal association between viral infection and the development of feline OSCCs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18715602/