Animal Warts
Although the bumps on the
skins of toads are called
“warts,” they are, in fact, not
warts at all (e.g., they are not
caused by a papillomavirus and
not related to any infectious
process). The bumps that we call
warts are part of a toad’s
protective camouflage and help
it blend in with its dry, rocky
environment. The toad’s “warts”
may also contain glands that
secrete toxins and discourage
predators from eating the toad.
Humans can not get warts from
handling toads, because toads do
not have viral warts. There are,
however, many species of animal
that can develop actual warts
caused by strains of
papillomavirus. In fact, warts
can be found in all domestic
animal species, including birds
and fish. Cattle, horses, and
dogs are the domestic animals
most commonly affected by warts.
Animal warts are mainly a cosmetic
concern, but because
they are caused by a virus,
animals that have warts are not
allowed to enter shows or
competitions.
The papillomaviruses that
cause warts on animals are
breed-specific--bovine papillomavirus causes warts in
cows but can not cause warts in
humans or dogs (or any other
species). It is common for young
animals to develop clusters of
warts and older animals to
develop a single wart. Insects
(i.e., ticks, mosquitoes) likely
transmit the papillomavirus
between animals. Young animals
are often affected by warts on
the face and neck because the
skin is thinner and the hair has
not grown as dense as on older
animals.
In cattle, warts are likely
to develop on the head, neck,
and shoulders. The
papillomavirus often infects the
cow through a break in the skin.
The warts begin to appear about
8 weeks after the cow is
infected with the virus and last
for about 1 year. Calves are
most susceptible to the
papillomavirus; it is rare to
find warts on a cow that is
older than 2 years.
Horses develop warts on the
nose, lips, eyelids, legs,
genitals, and udder and inside
the ears. Again, the virus often
infects the animal through
broken skin. Warts resolve in a
matter of months on young horses
and may last for over a year on
older horses.
Young dogs can develop
mucous membrane papillomatosis,
or warts in and around the mouth
and throat. The warts are
usually harmless but can
interfere with the animal’s
ability to chew and swallow.
Older dogs generally develop
solitary warts in the mucous
membranes.
The most common treatment
for animal warts, whatever the
species, is to let the wart run
its course. It is always a good
idea to isolate infected
animals, so the virus does not
spread. Be careful to sterilize
all tack or equipment that has
touched an animal that suffers
from warts before using it on
another, non-infected animal.
Surgical removal of animal warts is an
option.
REFERENCES
Indiana State Board of Animal
Health [Internet]. Preventing
Animal Warts. Indiana State
Board of Animal Health Tech
Bulletin RC4-11.98 [cited 2010
Jun 15]. Available from:
http://www.in.gov/boah/files/RC411warts.pdf
Purdue School of Veterinary
Medicine [Internet]. Morter RL,
Horstman L. Cattle warts: bovine
papillomatosis [cited 2010 Jun
15]. Available from:
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/VY/VY-58.html
TheHorse.com [Internet]. Blood
Horse Publications; c2010.
Miller W Jr. Warts [cited 2010
Jun 15]. Available from:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=661
The Ohio State University
Extension [Internet]. Knebusch
K. Smart Stuff With Twig
Walkingstick: toad warts [cited
2010 Jun 16]. Available from:
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~news/story.php?id=3142
More About Warts
|
