Papillomaviruses and Papillomaviral Disease in Dogs and Cats: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Papillomaviruses (PVs) frequently infect humans as well as non-human species. While most PV infections are asymptomatic, PVs can also cause hyperplastic papillomas (warts) as well as pre-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. In this review, the life cycle of PVs is discussed, along with the mechanisms by which PVs cause hyperplastic and neoplastic diseases. The humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to PVs are reviewed, giving context to the later discussion on the use of vaccines to reduce canine and feline PV-associated disease. Both dogs and cats are infected by numerous different PV types classified into multiple different PV genera. The taxonomic classification of PVs is reviewed, along with the significance of this classification. The PV-associated diseases of dogs and cats are then described. These descriptions include the clinical presentation of the disease, the causative PV types, the histological features that allow diagnosis, and, where appropriate, possible treatment options. The review is comprehensive and contains the latest information about PVs and the diseases they cause in dogs and cats.