| ARTICLE ABSTRACT | |||||||
| DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.18947-0 | ||||||||
| Online 10 February 2003 | ||||||||
G. Chambers,1 V. A. Ellsmore,2 P. M. O'Brien,1 S. W. J. Reid,2 S. Love,2 M. S. Campo1 and L. Nasir2
Institute of Comparative Medicine, Department of
Veterinary Pathology1 and Department of Veterinary Clinical
Studies2, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Garscube Estate,
Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
The equine sarcoid, a locally aggressive, fibroblastic skin tumour, is the most common dermatological neoplasm reported in horses; there is no consistently effective therapy. It is widely accepted that bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2 are associated with the pathogenesis of sarcoid disease. Most sarcoids appear to contain detectable viral DNA and RNA and are also known to express the BPV types 1 and 2 major transforming protein, E5, but appear not to produce infectious virions. While the mode of transmission of infection has not been elucidated, viral gene expression, in particular of E5, may contribute to virus persistence and disease pathogenesis by downregulating MHC class I expression. Here, the pathology and epidemiology of the sarcoid and its association with BPV is reviewed; the transforming functions of the BPV oncoproteins and their possible role in sarcoid pathogenesis are discussed; and the practical implications of BPV infection for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes are considered.
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© 2003 SGM
This article is now available in the May 2003 print issue of JGV (vol. 84, 1055–1062). The complete issue of the journal may be seen in electronic form on JGV Online.
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