Seroepidemiologic studies of bovine papillomavirus infections

ABSTRACT-Bovine and human sera were analyzed for the presence of antibodies against bovine paplllomavirus types 1 and 2 (BPY 1 and 2) and human paplllomavirus type 1 (HPY 1) In a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Human sera did not react with BPY antigens, and bovine sera showed no evidence of antibodies against HPY 1. In contrast, 19 % of all bovine sera tested reacted with BPY 1 and 2 antigens, and 35 % of human sera revealed antibodies against HPY 1. No serologic evidence was obtained for heterologous Infections of persons exposed preferentially to cattle (farmers, butchers, and patients with Q-fever).-JNCI 62: 1423-1425, 1979. BPV seem to reveal a less restricted host range than other representatives of this virus group (1). In cattle BPV induce fibropapillomas, penile and esophageal papillomatosis, and urinary bladder tumors (2). Malig-nant conversion has been observed in BPV-associated esophageal papillomatosis (3) and in urinary bladder tumors (2), possibly in connection with consumption of bracken fern. Whereas most of the papillomaviruses are highly specific for their natural host, BPV in addition induces tumors in unrelated species under experimental conditions (1). BPV genome equivalents were also demonstrated in naturally occurring equine sarcoids (4). Two types of BPV isolated from bovine skin papil-lomas have been recently characterized. They have been designated BPV I and BPV 2. Both types appear to share approximately 50 % of their nucleotide sequences and cross-react immunologically (Lancaster WD, Olson C: Personal communication). Apparently, BPV I and BPV 2 reveal the same broad host range (Lancaste