Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline papillomavirus infections and skin lesions in cats
By Herman Egberink et al.·Published in Viruses·2025·Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands, CH·View original on DOAJ →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Feline Papillomatosis
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with skin lesions may have been infected with feline papillomavirus (PV), which can cause various skin problems, including papillomas and even cancer. Most cats with this virus show no symptoms, but it can be diagnosed through skin tests that look for changes in cells or the virus itself. While there is no specific treatment for these skin lesions, many cases resolve on their own. If a cat develops a more serious condition like invasive squamous cell carcinoma, surgery to remove the affected tissue may be necessary.
People also search for: cat skin lesions treatment · feline papillomavirus symptoms · cat squamous cell carcinoma removal
Abstract
Different types of feline papillomaviruses (PVs) are associated with a variety of skin lesions and neoplasia, such as papillomas and cell carcinomas, but the virus can also be found in healthy skin. In this review, the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), a scientifically independent board of veterinary experts on feline infectious diseases from 11 European Countries, discusses the current knowledge of feline PV infections. Cats most likely become infected through lesions or abrasions of the skin. Most PV infections remain asymptomatic. Besides cat-specific PVs, DNA sequences most closely related to human and bovine PVs have been detected in feline skin lesions. Diagnosis is supported by the histological detection of PV-induced cell changes and intralesional detection of viral antigen (immunostaining) or viral DNA (in situ hybridization). Immunostaining of p16CDKN2A protein (p16) can be performed as a proxy marker for PV-induced neoplasms. There is no specific treatment for PV-induced skin lesions. Spontaneous regression commonly occurs. In the case of invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC), complete excision should be considered, if possible.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/v17010059