Endemic papillomavirus infection of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Roe deer papillomavirus (CcPV1) infection has been identified as an endemic disease in roe deer populations of the Carpathian basin in Central Europe (Hungary, Austria and Croatia). The disease is characterised by easily recognizable skin tumours similar to deer papillomavirus infection of North American deer species. In 2006, a questionnaire study was conducted among all Hungarian game management units (GMUs) in order to assess the distribution of the disease and its major epidemiological features. Categorical information was collected about disease occurrence, trend and frequency of detection, on primarily affected age classes in both sexes, and association of lesions with mortality. Replies were received from 539 GMUs representing 50.9% of total GMU territory and disease presence was reported by 295 (54.7%) GMUs. Older age classes of both sexes were found to be more affected. Association of various environmental factors with disease occurrence was evaluated and data were collected on the occurrence of similar skin lesions in other European countries. Pathological features of CcPV1 infection were described and the localisation of both CcPV1 antigen and DNA was characterised by immunohistochemistry and in situ DNA hybridisation in skin lesions. Virus presence was also demonstrated by PCR and PCR product sequencing. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.