Papillomaviral DNA sequences are not amplifiable from canine subungual squamous cell carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if papillomaviral DNA is more frequently present within canine subungual squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) than in non-SCC digit lesions.


METHODS
Total DNA was extracted from 23 canine subungual SCCs and 23 non-SCC digit lesions. The presence of amplifiable DNA within each sample was confirmed by amplifying a section of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) gene. Two different consensus PCR primer sets were used to amplify papillomaviral DNA from the samples.


RESULTS
The consensus primers only amplified papillomaviral DNA from the positive control samples. None of the 46 canine digit samples contained DNA that was amplifiable by the consensus PCR primers.


CONCLUSIONS
Papillomaviruses are unlikely to be a significant cause of canine subungual SCCs.


CONCLUSIONS
While circumstantial evidence suggests that canine subungual SCCs could develop due to papillomaviral infection, this study did not reveal any evidence to support papillomaviral aetiology of these neoplasms.
Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. J.Munday@massey.ac.nz
J S
JS
Munday
S
S
Waropastrakul
I
I
Gibson
A F
AF
French
D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D004285:Dogs; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000473:pathology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D004279:DNA, Viral