Molecular heterogeneity and lesion site specificity of cutaneous bovine papillomaviruses.

Abstract We have characterized the DNA of papillomaviruses from cutaneous papillomas of British cattle using restriction enzymes and physical mapping. We have found three main types of BPV: one is a newly reported distinct type (BVP-5) specifically associated with a very common tumor of the skin of the teat and udder, descriptively known as “rice grain” papilloma; a second is associated with papillomas of the neck and shoulder (BVP-2); and a third is associated with papillomas of the penis and teat (BVP-1). We have investigated the DNA sequence homology between these viruses by nucleic acid cross-hybridization. We discuss the relationship between the five bovine papillomaviruses which have been characterized so far.