文摘
Aural plaques occur on the skin of the medial surface of the pinnae of horses. In this study the presence of Equus caballus papillomavirus (EcPV)-3 and -4 DNA was assessed in 45 such plaques using a ¡®touchdown¡¯ PCR. Papillomaviruses (PVs) were detected in 62.3 % (28/45) of samples: EcPV-3 and -4 DNA in 8.89 % (4/45) and 37.78 % (17/45) of samples, respectively, with 15.56 % (7/45) of samples exhibiting co-infection. Viral DNA was not detected in 37.78 % (17/45) of samples, suggesting the possible existence of other equine PVs. Neither EcPV-3 nor -4 were detected in negative control skin. This study is the first to evaluate the prevalence of these two viruses in equine aural plaques.