Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus Infection in a Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) from Colorado, USA

Authors

J. Jeffrey Root, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Matthew W. Hopken, National Wildlife Research Center
Thomas Gidlewski, National Wildlife Disease ProgramFollow
Antoinette J. Piaggio, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Root, J.J., M.W. Hopken, T. Gidlewski, A.J. Piaggio. 2013. Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus infection in a desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) from Colorado, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 49(4):1060-1062. doi: 10.7589/2013-02-033.

Comments

U.S. government work.

Abstract

A wild-caught desert cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus audubonii) from Colorado was observed to have large, pedunculated, dark cutaneous lesions on its abdomen and cylindrical masses on its mouth. Morphologically, the masses were consistent with previous reports of virally induced papillomas. Subsequent DNA analysis indicated widespread infection with cottontail rabbit papillomavirus.