Papillomavirus (PV) infection is associated with development of epithelial cancer in different species, including domestic cat (Felis catus). Felis catus PV type‐2 (FcaPV‐2) is considered the causative agent of a proportion of feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), through the transforming properties of its E6 and E7 oncogenes. However, the possible role of FcaPVs in the aetiology of feline oral SCC (FOSCC) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and gene expression of FcaPV‐2 in FOSCC samples. We detected FcaPV‐2 DNA in 10/32 (31%) of the analysed FOSCC by the use of PCR methods. Importantly, viral mRNA was detected by RT‐PCR in 7/10 (70%) of DNA positive samples. In particular, FcaPV‐2 L1, E2 and E6E7 genes were found to be expressed in 5/10 (50%), 3/10 (33%) and 5/10 (50%) samples, respectively. Viral DNA was also detected in non neoplastic oral ulcerative lesions (ULs) (4/11, 36%); qPCR suggested a difference in viral load between ULs and FOSCCs, particularly in those expressing E6E7, although it was not statistically significant. These data suggest, but do not definively prove, a possible role of FcaPV‐2 in the development of a proportion of FOSCC. Moreover, L1 and E2 gene expression results indicate that FcaPV‐2 infection associated with these tumours may possibly be productive.

中文翻译：

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Felis catus papillomavirus type-2 DNA 和病毒基因表达的检测表明猫口腔鳞状细胞癌的活动性感染。

乳头瘤病毒 (PV) 感染与不同物种上皮癌的发展有关，包括家猫 ( Felis catus )。猫PV 2型（FcaPV-2）通过其E6和E7癌基因的转化特性被认为是一部分猫皮肤鳞状细胞癌（SCC）的病原体。然而，FcaPV 在猫口腔 SCC (FOSCC) 病因学中的可能作用仍不清楚。本研究的目的是评估 FcaPV-2 在 FOSCC 样本中的存在和基因表达。我们使用 PCR 方法在 10/32 (31%) 分析的 FOSCC 中检测到 FcaPV-2 DNA。重要的是，通过 RT-PCR 在 7/10 (70%) 的 DNA 阳性样本中检测到病毒 mRNA。特别是，发现 FcaPV-2 L1、E2 和 E6E7 基因分别在 5/10 (50%)、3/10 (33%) 和 5/10 (50%) 样本中表达。在非肿瘤性口腔溃疡性病变 (UL) 中也检测到病毒 DNA (4/11, 36%)；qPCR 表明 UL 和 FOSCC 之间的病毒载量存在差异，特别是在表达 E6E7 的那些中，尽管它没有统计学意义。这些数据表明，但并未明确证明 FcaPV-2 在一定比例的 FOSCC 发展中可能发挥作用。此外，L1 和 E2 基因表达结果表明与这些肿瘤相关的 FcaPV-2 感染可能具有生产力。