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The seven fully described canine papillomaviruses (CPVs) have been allocated by sequence comparison and other genetic features into three phylogenetic clades. This largely reflects clinical findings, so each sequence of a newly discovered CPV in combination with clinical and pathological details is a valuable piece of evidence. We hypothesize that the genomic sequence of a new CPV can help to predict clinical features and progression, and that this can be tested in subsequent cases. In this case, a 2-year-old female dachshund-mix presented with papillomatosis clinically and histologically characterized as pigmented viral plaques. PCRs using primers evaluated for CPVs successfully amplified papillomavirus (PV) DNA. Sequencing of the products revealed an unknown PV putatively belonging to the PV genus Chi. Rolling circle amplification was used to amplify the entire viral genome. Sequencing revealed a novel PV, designated as CPV8, which was most closely related (63% homology) to the recently discovered CPV4. CPV4 is associated with benign pigmented plaques in pugs. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequences of four viral genes showed that the novel virus was closest to CPV3, CPV4 and CPV5. The presence of viral DNA was confirmed in the lesions by in situ hybridization using specific probes. CPV8 may consequently be regarded as the fourth member of the Chi-papillomavirus genus. All viruses belonging to this genus induce pigmented plaques in dogs. These findings support the hypothesis that genomic sequences can be useful in predicting the clinical features of CPV infection., (© 2011 The Authors. Veterinary Dermatology © 2011 ESVD and ACVD.)

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is common skin infection caused by molluscum virus. Growth of MC inside melanocytic lesion is extremely rare. We present the case of MC in common melanocytic nevus and the first case of MC in superficial spreading malignant melanoma. Complete destruction of melanocytes and melanoma cells occurred on the site of MC infection. MC virus might be considered as a future candidate for viral oncolysis in cutaneous melanoma patients with advanced disease.

A 65-year-old Latino man presented to his dermatologist for the removal of two melanocytic nevi from the back. The first nevus was removed from the right scapula and contained melanocytes with prominent eosinophilic nuclear inclusion bodies. The second nevus was removed from the paravertebral region, without evidence of inclusion bodies. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions in the first nevus contained dispersed finely granular, homogenous bodies without a limiting membrane. Immunohistochemistry characterized them as ubiquitin-positive material. Reverse transcriptase in situ polymerase chain reaction analysis was positive for molluscum-specific primers, suggesting that the inclusions encountered in the first nevus were secondary to a remote, local molluscum viral infection of melanocytes.

Purpose: To evaluate the presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in pterygia to study the possible association between HSV and pterygia in Taiwan, a tropical country with a high prevalence of pterygium., Methods: Sixty-five pterygia, 10 normal conjunctiva, 8 conjunctival nevi, and 2 malignant conjunctival melanomas were obtained. Clinical histories were recorded for each patient. HSV detection was accomplished by polymerase chain reaction amplification of viral sequences. HSV-positive specimens underwent subsequent DNA in situ hybridization. Results were statistically analyzed., Results: By using polymerase chain reaction, HSV was detected in 3 (5%) pterygia, and no conjunctival control displayed HSV. All 3 HSV-positive pterygia studies were DNA in situ hybridization negative. There was no statistically significant correlation between pterygium and the presence of HSV., Conclusions: HSV is not associated with pterygium formation in Taiwan; the pathogenesis of pterygia is still incompletely understood.

Pugs are predisposed to the development of deeply pigmented, slightly elevated hyperkeratotic noncancerous plaques. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of a papillomavirus (PV)-like DNA fragment from such lesions suggested that PV may be responsible for them, although the predicted virus has not yet been identified. The goal of the present study was to make use of pigmented plaques from four pugs to identify and sequence the predicted virus. Taking advantage of the circular nature of PV DNA, the entire viral genome was amplified by rolling circle amplification and restriction enzyme analysis disclosed the same pattern in all four cases. Sequencing of one of the amplificates revealed a novel canine PV, termed CPV4, related to the recently described CPV3 but clearly distinct from canine oral PV and CPV2. Thus, a novel canine PV and a method for its future diagnosis are described.

Background: Some studies have shown that cutaneous and mucosal melanoma biopsy specimens harbour human papillomavirus (HPV), suggesting that this virus may play a role in development and progression of the tumour., Objectives: To investigate the presence of HPV DNA and the prevalence of different high-risk mucosal HPV genotypes in primary melanoma (PM) and in acquired dysplastic melanocytic naevi (ADMN)., Methods: Fifty-one PMs from 18 men and 33 women (median age 55.5 years), 33 ADMN from 15 men and 18 women (median age 35.1 years) and 20 control skin samples from nine men and 11 women (median age 43.5 years) were studied. All diagnoses were made after histological analysis. HPV DNA analysis was made using two different polymerase chain reaction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) methods, namely MY-PCR and GP-PCR., Results: Using GP-PCR, mucosal HPVs were detected in 14 PMs (27%; P = 0.0166) and eight ADMN (24%; P = 0.0367), while with MY-PCR, mucosal HPVs were found in 11 PMs (22%; P = 0.04) and five ADMN (15%; P not significant). All control skin samples were negative for mucosal HPVs with both DNA amplification procedures., Conclusions: Using our PCR-ELISA methods, the detection of mucosal high-risk HPV genotypes in 24% of precursor lesions (ADMN) and in 27% of PMs adds to the body of evidence indicating a colocalization of mucosal HPV and tumoral melanocytic pathologies.

Canine pigmented epidermal nevus (CPEN) is a skin disorder of some breeds of dog characterized by multiple black plaques of the haired and non-haired skin. Three cases of pigmented cutaneous papillomatosis (previously described also as CPEN) in pug dogs were investigated histopathologically, immunohistochemically and electron microscopically. Additionally, DNA analyses with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed in two cases. Many nuclei of the stratum granulosa were diffusely immunolabelled for specific structural antigens of bovine papillomavirus (subgroup A), but nuclear inclusion bodies were not detected by retrospective examination of haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of the affected skin. Aggregates of small numbers of viral particles (ranging from 37 to 43 nm in diameter) with a hexagonal structure were sparsely scattered throughout the nuclei of some of the superficial keratinocytes. PCR amplification targeted for the L1 gene of papillomavirus cloned from a case of CPEN yielded an expected fragment of 194-bp in the two CPEN cases examined but not in a case of canine oral papilloma.

To investigate the relation between the canine pigmented epidermal nevus (PEN) and cutaneous papillomavirus, we cloned and sequenced the L1 gene of papillomavirus from the canine pigmented epidermal nevus (PEN). Amplification of DNA sample with the L1 consensus primers yielded an expected fragment of approximately 450-bp. The nucleotide sequences of the fragment showed about 64% of sequence similarity to the L1 region of human papillomavirus isolate CP6108 and less than 57% sequence similarity to those of canine oral papillomavirus (COPV). In situ hybridization determined the presence of papillomavirus DNA mainly in the upper stratum granulosum of skin in this case. The results indicated that the canine cutaneous papillomavirus from the PEN lesion was genetically close to human papillomavirus rather than COPV.