Molecular diagnosis of bovine papillomavirus-induced warts in the Konya region

Bovine papillomaviruses cause papillomatosis, an infectious viral disease of cattle. This study aimed to reveal the molecular presence of papillomavirus in cattle raised in the province of Konya. To this end, a total of 25 papilloma lesions that developed in the head, neck, and teat regions of 25 cattle bred for milk and meat production in Konya's Ahırlı, Bozkır, and Yalıhüyük districts were sampled. These lesions were analyzed with FAP 59/64 and MY11/09 consensus primers using the conventional PCR method at the molecular level. While no positivity was detected in any sample in the analyses performed with the FAP 59/64 primer pair, a positive result was obtained in 2 (8%) of 25 samples in the analysis performed with the MY11/09 primer. In the second stage analysis performed using type-specific primers in all samples, Bovine Papillomavirus (BPV) types were detected in 24 (96%) of 25 samples. No BPV-3, BPV-5, and BPV-11 types were found in any sample. BPV types determined by type-specific primers were BPV-1, BPV-2, BPV-4, BPV-6, BPV-8, BPV-9, BPV-10, and BPV-12. BPV-12 was determined to be the most prevalent type (95.83%) in the overall distribution. Co-infection with more than one BPV type was detected in 19 (79.16%) of 24 samples with positive results with type-specific primers. It was determined that there were binary, triple, and quadruple type combinations in the co-infected samples, and among these, binary co-infections (50%; 12 samples) were observed most frequently. As a result of macroscopic examination, 52% of the lesions were evaluated to have a typical morphological form. No statistically significant relationship was found between the macroscopic appearance and anatomical localization of the lesions and the types of BPV detected (p>0,05). The findings indicate that various BPV types causing papillomatosis disease are present in cattle raised in Konya province.