Papillomavirus Infection in Raccoons (Procyon Lotor)

4This communication documents the relevant gross, microscopic, and immunohistochemical findings of a proliferative skin lesion in 2 of the 53 raccoons with papillomavirus infection. These 2 raccoons were adult males which were live-trapped in an area where vaccine-laden baits were distributed. The raccoons were in good nutritional state and appeared healthy. However, on the dorsal aspects of all 4 paws, there were numerous small (1-2 mm in diameter), slightly raised, roughly circular lesions (Fig. 1). The lesions were lightly pigmented (gray), and occasionally coalesced. All the paws and representative tissues of all major organs were collected and placed into neutral buffered 10% formalin as previously described. 3,4 The tissues were embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 6 µm, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Additional sequential sections were stained using the avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method for dection of papillomaviru s anti