engleski

Fibropapillomatosis in a male mouflon (Ovis musimon) - a case report

Tumorous skin lesions associated with papillomaviruses were described previously in various wildlife species. Depending on the nature of its surface (smooth or cauliflower- like), they were usually described by practitioners as fibromas or papillomas. Later, in various literatures these lesions were named fibropapillomatosis. Family Papillomaviridae consist of a diverse and rich group of small viruses that infect different vertebrate species including humans. Within Cetartiodactyla 15 species are infected with 39 papillomaviruses. For a long period of time it was speculated that papillomaviruses are highly species-specific, however, recent findings of concurrent subclinical infections with different types of virus in wild ruminants from Italian Alps oppose this hypothesis. In this study we present a case of severe fibropapillomatosis in a 4 yr. old male mouflon from the island of Rab. The head of the respective mouflon was transported to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine following regular execution of the game management plan. Cauliflower-like lesion was present on the upper and lower lips, covering majority of the muzzle. Lesion was reddish in a colour and partly wet. On the histological section thickened hyperkeratous epithelium with finger- like projections was visible. Connective tissue (tumour stroma) was present in the centre of these projections. Sporadic haemorrhages and mixed inflammatory infiltrate (lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, and macrophages) was also present. Presence of koilocytes was suggestive for viral aetiology. Ulcerations and bacterial colonization were present on the surface of the lesion. Ovine papillomaviruses belong to 2 different genera, Deltapapillomavirus and Dyokappapillomavirus. A similar nasal neoplasia was recently described in a free-ranging chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in Italy with the isolation of novel papillomavirus RrPV1. However, to the authors' knowledge there are no descriptions of clinical fibropapillomatosis in a free-ranging mouflon.

fibropapillomatosis, mouflon, tumour, skin lesion

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