Papillomavirus infection and squamous cell carcinoma in horses.
Authors: Sykora Sabine, Brandt Sabine
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Papillomavirus infection and squamous cell carcinoma in horses Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) significantly compromises equine health and welfare, yet its underlying causes remain incompletely understood in many cases. Drawing parallels with human oncology—where high-risk papillomaviruses drive the majority of cervical carcinomas and substantial proportions of anogenital and head-and-neck SCCs—Sykora and Brandt's 2017 review synthesises evidence for papillomavirus involvement in equine SCC development and its precursor lesions. The histopathological and cytological similarities between human papillomavirus-induced and equine SCCs provide biological plausibility for this association, though the review reveals heterogeneous evidence and identifies SCC cases arising through apparently papillomavirus-independent mechanisms. Understanding which equine SCCs are papillomavirus-mediated has direct implications for prevention and management strategies, particularly regarding vaccination approaches and surveillance protocols. Practitioners should remain alert to emerging evidence on papillomavirus aetiology whilst recognising that multifactorial pathways likely govern SCC development in different anatomical locations and individual horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Equine practitioners should consider papillomavirus infection as a potential etiology when diagnosing squamous cell carcinoma in horses, particularly in anogenital and head/neck locations
- •Awareness of SCC precursor lesions may enable earlier detection and intervention before malignant transformation occurs
- •Recent prophylactic advances should be investigated as potential preventive strategies for at-risk horses
Key Findings
- •High-risk papillomavirus (hrPV) causes almost all cervical carcinomas and a high percentage of anogenital SCCs in humans, suggesting similar etiology may exist in equine SCC
- •Equine SCCs and hrHPV-induced human cancers share similar cytological and histopathological features, supporting the hypothesis of papillomavirus involvement in equine disease
- •Current evidence supports an aetiological association between papillomavirus infections and equine SCCs and SCC precursor lesions
- •Some equine SCCs have papillomavirus-unrelated aetiologies and recent advances in prophylaxis have been developed