Pigmented Plaques Associated with Papillomavirus Infection in Dogs: Is this Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis?

Abstract

Abstract— Two Pugs and two Miniature Schnauzers with multiple pigmented epidermal nevi were investigated. The four dogs had pigmented cutaneous maculae and plaques. Histopathological evaluation showed papillated or digitated epidermal hyperplasia with hypermelanosis and giant keratohyalin granules in the stratum granulosum. Immunohistochemical staining revealed papillomavirus group‐specific antigen in the skin specimens from all four dogs. Electron microscopic study of the specimens from two dogs revealed numerous round viral particles within the nuclei of the keratinocytes in the upper stratum granulosum. It was suspected that papillomavirus was the etiologic agent of the lesions, and that Pugs and Miniature Schnauzers might be predisposed to infection. These findings indicate this canine dermatosis resembles epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) of humans, a rare chronic disease caused by human papillomavirus. The potential for transformation of the lesions to squamous cell carcinoma is also suspected and discussed. Résumé— Deux Carlins et deux Schnauzers nains présentant de multiples naevi épidermiques pigmentés sont examinés. Les quatre chiens présentent des macules et des plaques pigmentées. Les lésions histopathologiques montrent une hyperplasie épidermique papillaire ou digitée avec une hypermélanose et la présence de grains de kératohyaline dans le stratum corneum. Les colorations immunohistochimiques révèlent des antigènes spécifiques du groupe des papillomas virus dans les biopsies des quatre chiens. L'étude ultrastructurale à partir des biopsies de deux chiens montrent de nombreuses particules virales rondes dans les noyaux des kératinocytes des couches supérieures du stratum granulosum. II a été suspecté que le papilloma virus était l'agent causal des lésions et que les Carlins et les Schnauzers nains pouvaient être prédisposés à cette infection. Ces éléments font que cette dermatose observée chez le chien ressemble à l'épidermodysplasie verruciforme de l'homme, une dermatose chronique rare causée par un papilloma virus humain. La potentialité de transformation des lésions en épithélioma spinocellulaire est aussi suspectée et discutée. [Nagata, M., Nanko, H., Moriyama, A., Washizu, T., Ishida, T. Pigmented plaques associated with papilloma virus infection in dogs: Is this epidermodysplasia verruciformis? (Plaques hyperpigmentées associées à une infection à papilloma virus chez le chien: est‐ce épidermodysplasie verruciforme?). Resumen— Se investigó dos perros de raza Pug y dos de raza Schnauzer Miniatura con múltiples nevos epidérmicos pigmentados. Los cuatro perros presentaban máculas y placas cutáneas pigmentadas. El estudio histológico mostró hiperplasia epitelial con papilas y digitaciones, así como hipermelanosis y gránules de queratohialina gigantes en el estrato granuloso. Las tinciones immunohistoquimicas detectaron antígeno grupo‐específico de papilomavirus en las muestras de los cuatro animales. Mediante estudios de microscopía electrónica en muestras de dos de los perros se observaron numero...

Canine Papillomavirus—A Centenary Review

“…Cutaneous squamous papillomas (Watrach, 1969;Campbell et al, 1988), cutaneous inverted papilloma (Campbell et al, 1988;Shimada et al, 1993) and canine pigmented epidermal nevus (Nagata, 1995) have all been associated with papillomaviruses. The multiplicity of lesions in the dog indicates that more than one type of papillomavirus is responsible (Campbell et al, 1988;Delius et al, 1994).…”

In vitroand Animal Models for Antiviral Therapy in Papillomavirus Infections

“…Squamous cell carcinomas have been associated with the use of a live canine oral papillomavirus (COPV) vaccine (Bregman et al, 1987;Ghim etal., 1995). The canine 'pigmented epidermal nevus' is associated with a papillomavirus, and some parallels have been drawn with human EV (Nagata et al, 1995). It is thought that there are several types of canine papillomavirus 390 (Campbell et al, 1988;Delius et al, 1994), each having a different tissue tropism which may be expanded by natural or iatrogenic immunosuppression.…”

Detection of Antibodies against Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis-Associated Canine Papillomavirus 3 in Sera of Dogs from Europe and Africa by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

“…In contrast, the role of PVs in the development of canine cancers remains uncertain, although a clinical counterpart to human EV has been described in dogs with PV infections (28). Until now, only four canine PVs (CPVs) have been unambiguously identified and sequenced (7,42,43,46).…”

“…Based on a phylogenetic analysis, CPV3 represents the prototype of a new genus and differs significantly from the classical COPV. Finally, an additional CPV, named CPV4, was isolated from the lesions of several pugs suffering from numerous persisting pigmented plaques (28,43).Several clinical case reports and some epidemiological evidence suggest that CPVs may play a role in canine cancers (3,4,12,31,36,38,40,44,47). Due to its association with canine EV, CPV3 was hypothesized to be a candidate agent for certain forms of canine cancers.…”

“…Based on a phylogenetic analysis, CPV3 represents the prototype of a new genus and differs significantly from the classical COPV. Finally, an additional CPV, named CPV4, was isolated from the lesions of several pugs suffering from numerous persisting pigmented plaques (28,43).…”