Squamous cell carcinoma and papilloma virus in the prepuce of a Boer buck

Abstract

Case description: A 4.5-year-old Boer buck was presented for chronic posthitis and reluctance to breed. Clinical findings: Gross examination of the buck’s prepuce revealed numerous small ulcerated masses. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the biopsied preputial tissue identified squamous cell carcinoma with cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for papillomavirus antigens present in the neoplastic epithelial cells. Clinical relevance: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) occurs sporadically worldwide in a variety of anatomical sites in small ruminants. Papillomavirus has been occasionally reported in goats and other wild caprine species as a suggested cause of neoplasia. This report describes a unique case of posthitis associated with SCC and papillomavirus in a breeding buck.