Pathological and Molecular Study of Bovine Papillomavirus ‘BPV’ in Basrah Province / Iraq

Abstract

The current study was conducted to detect bovine papillomavirus (BPV) in Basrah province in Iraq and study it pathologically and molecularly. Samples were collected (58) from veterinary hospitals in Basrah during the period from November 2020 to March 2021.The pathological distribution showed the prevalence of the disease among females by 41 (70.69%), while in males by 17 (29.31%), and the age of affected animals ranged between 1-3.5 years, the results showed that the age group ranged between 1-2 years the infection rate showed a higher incidence rate of 42 (72.42%) compared to the age group more than two years which showed 16 (27.58%), also the prevalence of BPV with irregular shape 51 (87.93%), while the circular shape was 7 (12.07%) , location of the lesions on the animal's body, it was distributed as follows: neck 13 (22.41%), head 10 (17.24%), back 8 (13.79%), chest 8 (13.79%), mouth 7 (12.06%), thigh 6 (10.34%) Knee 3 (5.17%), Udder 2 (3.44%), eye 1 (1.72%).The results of macroscopical examination showed that almost all the skin lesions were external, which appeared in the form of a small, medium, or even large single wart and a lobular dome. These lesions were predominantly white to gray or even black in color, the lesions were of a rough and scaly nature .The microscopy results of  BPV showed hyperkeratosis of the stratum corneum of the epidermis ; also, there is a marked koilocytosis in the stratum granulosum and stratum spinosum as well to acanthosis  accompanied with finger-like projecting papillae and rete pegs grown homogeneously .The molecular diagnosis was performed by DNA extracted of BPV samples, and then PCR was done , as the results of the molecular examination showed the presence of BPV conclusively in Basra , which were 52 positive cases and 6 negative cases were shown .Three isolates of BPV were presented for  DNA sequencing. These isolates were successfully identified, and the specific sequence of these isolates showed the genotype of the virus, which was BPV type-1 in Basrah .