Pigmented chin papillomas in red (Cervus elaphus)  x wapiti (Cervus canadensis) stags associated with a novel papillomavirus.
METHODS
Lesions were observed on the chins of two 2- to 3-year-old red (Cervus elaphus)  x wapiti (Cervus canadensis) stags from the lower North Island of New Zealand during velvet removal.


RESULTS
Both stags had numerous, coalescing, darkly pigmented plaques and nodules on the skin of the chin and lower lips that were 3-10 mm in diameter. Re-examination after 12 months of initial detection revealed no appreciable change in the lesions. A biopsy sample from one lesion was submitted for histopathological examination.


RESULTS
Sections revealed lesions consistent with pigmented viral papillomas, characterised by marked epidermal hyperplasia forming papillary fronds, prominent clumping of keratohyalin granules, keratinocytes with dilated grey-blue cytoplasm, shrunken nuclei surrounded by a clear halo (koilocytes), and presumptive viral intranuclear inclusions. Papillomavirus DNA was amplified by PCR from a fresh tissue sample from the same papilloma. Comparison of the partial nucleotide sequence amplified to previously reported papillomaviruses suggested the presence of a novel papillomavirus type.


METHODS
A presumptive diagnosis of pigmented viral papilloma was made.


CONCLUSIONS
While the papillomas described in these two cases do not appear to cause major clinical disease, they are visually unappealing and have the potential to spread to other valuable deer.
a Gribbles Veterinary , PO Box 536, Palmerston North 4440 , New Zealand.
B I
BI
Vaatstra
J S
JS
Munday
P W
PW
Morriss
D000818:Animals; D002680:Chin / Q000473:pathology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D003670:Deer; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010212:Papilloma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010860:Pigments, Biological
D004279:DNA, Viral; D010860:Pigments, Biological