Evidence from a Series of 104 Equine Sarcoids Suggests That Most Sarcoids in New Zealand Are Caused by Bovine Papillomavirus Type 2, although Both BPV1 and BPV2 DNA Are Detectable in around 10% of Sarcoids.
Authors: Munday John S, Orbell Geoff, Fairley Rob A, Hardcastle Michael, Vaatstra Bernie
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine sarcoids remain a significant clinical challenge across the horse population, with bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2 established as the primary causative agents; however, the relative prevalence of these types varies considerably between geographical regions, necessitating region-specific understanding of disease aetiology. Munday and colleagues analysed 104 sarcoid samples from three distinct New Zealand regions across a 15-year period using consensus and type-specific PCR primers targeting five known deltapapillomaviruses (BPV1, BPV2, BPV13, BPV14, and Ovis aries PV2). BPV2 dominated the findings, detected as a sole pathogen in 88.3% of virus-positive lesions (83/94), whilst a further 9.6% harboured both BPV1 and BPV2 concurrently, leaving only 2.1% with BPV1 alone; notably, no other papillomavirus types were identified, and 10% of sarcoids remained virus-negative. The predominance of BPV2 in New Zealand aligns with North American epidemiology but diverges markedly from European and Australian patterns, indicating that any future preventative vaccination strategies should prioritise robust BPV2 coverage for local populations. These regionally distinct viral aetiologies underscore the importance of clinicians understanding local sarcoid epidemiology, as it may influence expectations around lesion behaviour and inform targeted research and therapeutic development efforts specific to their geographical practice.
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Practical Takeaways
- •If sarcoid vaccines are developed for New Zealand horses, ensure they provide robust protection against BPV2, the causative agent in approximately 88% of cases
- •BPV1 and BPV2 co-infections occur in roughly 1 in 10 sarcoids, suggesting some horses may be exposed to multiple bovine papillomavirus types through cattle contact
- •About 10% of sarcoids lack detectable papillomavirus DNA, indicating either undetected PV types, integration patterns missed by current PCR methods, or alternative non-viral causes
Key Findings
- •PV DNA was detected in 90.4% (94/104) of sarcoids examined
- •BPV2 alone was found in 88.3% of sarcoids containing PV DNA, compared to only 2.1% with BPV1 alone
- •Mixed BPV1 and BPV2 DNA was detected in 9.6% of PV-positive sarcoids, with no other papillomavirus types identified
- •BPV2 predominance in New Zealand sarcoids matches North American patterns but differs significantly from European and Australian distributions