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Review
. 2025 Jan 2;17(1):59.
doi: 10.3390/v17010059.

Feline Papillomatosis

Herman Egberink  1 , Katrin Hartmann  2 , Ralf Mueller  2 , Maria Grazia Pennisi  3 , Sándor Belák  4 , Séverine Tasker  5   6 , Karin Möstl  7 , Diane D Addie  8 , Corine Boucraut-Baralon  9 , Tadeusz Frymus  10 , Regina Hofmann-Lehmann  11 , Fulvio Marsilio  12 , Etienne Thiry  13 , Uwe Truyen  14 , Margaret J Hosie  15
Affiliations
Review

Feline Papillomatosis

Herman Egberink et al. Viruses. .

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.

Keywords: FcaPV; feline; papilloma; papillomavirus; skin neoplasm.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors are members of the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), a scientifically independent board of experts in feline medicine. Some individual authors have been consultants for or have received research funding and honoraria from animal health companies and other organisations, but all authors declare no conflicts of interest for the writing of the independent review. All authors declare no conflicts of interest. The ABCD sponsors had no role in the writing nor in the decision to publish this review.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Papilloma virion, negative contrast electron microscopic (EM) image. Source: Laboratory of Tumor Virus Biology, NIH-Visuals Online# AV-8610-3067. (b) Cross-sectional model of a papillomavirus. The circular dsDNA is associated with cellular histones and surrounded by a capsid consisting of the L1 and L2 proteins. © Karin de Lange (Aksent Veterinary Communications) for the ABCD.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Different layers of feline skin and stages of the viral life cycle. © Karin de Lange (Aksent Veterinary Communications) for the ABCD.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pigmented flat cutaneous papillomas (photo Herman Egberink, Ph.D thesis Utrecht).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Diagnostic procedure to support the role of a papillomavirus (PV) infection in case of a clinical suspicion of a PV-induced lesion.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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