# Characterization of Bovine Papillomavirus Types Detected in Cattle Rumen Tissues from Amazon Region, Brazil

## TL;DR

This study identifies specific bovine papillomavirus types in cattle rumen tissues from the Amazon region of Brazil, contributing to understanding and managing BPV infections.

## Contribution

The study reports the first detection of BPV13 and BPV44 in cattle rumen tissues from the Brazilian Amazon region.

## Key findings

- BPV types 2, 13 (Delta PVs), and 44 were identified in rumen samples from cattle in the Amazon region.
- One sample was classified as a putative new subtype of BPV44.
- Histopathological analysis revealed fibropapilloma and squamous papilloma classifications.

## Abstract

Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) infection of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) can induce the development of masses with high growth, resulting in breathing and eating obstructions leading to animal suffering and death. Beyond this, BPV is related to economic losses worldwide by depressing meat and milk production as well as cattle by-products. Using PCR followed by Sanger sequencing, we were able to identify the high-risk Delta BPVs and the BPV44 on rumen cattle samples collected in slaughterhouses. These results can contribute to future epidemiological studies and vaccine studies regarding BPV infections.

The Bos Taurus Papillomavirus, commonly known as bovine papillomavirus (BPV), can cause lesions in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in cattle and induce the formation of papillomas in organs such as the pharynx, esophagus, rumen and reticulum. GIT papillomas can lead to feeding and breathing distress. Moreover, the sample collection is challenging, which reduces the BPV diagnosis in these organs. BPV can cause exophytic nodular, cauliflower-like, flat, filiform or atypical-shape papillomas at the epidermis. Histologically, the papillomas demonstrate orthokeratotic/parakeratotic hyperkeratosis and koilocytosis and, currently, BPV comprises 45 described types. The aim of this study was to carry out the genetic characterization of BPV present in rumen neoplastic lesions of cattle raised extensively in the Western Amazon region, Brazil. A total of 100 papillomatous ruminal samples were collected from animals slaughtered in Ji-Paraná and Urupá municipalities from the Rondônia state, Brazil. The samples were submitted to PCR using the primer pair FAP59/FAP64 and sequenced by the Sanger method. Histopathological analysis was performed on 24 samples, which had enough material for this purpose. As a result, samples were histologically classified as fibropapilloma and squamous papilloma. Among the samples analyzed, it was possible to identify the BPVs 2, 13 (Delta PVs) and 44, with one sample classified as a putative new subtype of BPV44. The present study could identify BPV13 and 44 types in cattle rumen tissues from the Brazilian Amazon region for the first time.