Coinfection with <i>Erethizon dorsatum</i> papillomavirus types 1 and 2 in pigmented papillomatous skin lesions of a North American porcupine in Germany

Abstract We present a case of a coinfection with two papillomaviruses— Erethizon dorsatum papillomavirus types 1 and 2 (EdPV1/2) in a North American porcupine housed in a German zoo. The animal exhibited exophytic black papules on the skin of the face and legs. Histopathologically, these lesions were classified as pigmented viral plaques showing acanthosis, hyperpigmentation, orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, hypergranulosis and koilocytes, but no intranuclear viral inclusion bodies. Papillomavirus DNA was detected within the lesions by PCR. Rolling circle amplification followed by next‐generation sequencing identified the full genome sequences of E. dorsatum papillomavirus types 1 and 2. The lesions associated with the E. dorsatum papillomavirus type infections slowly regressed spontaneously. To date, 12 cases of papillomavirus infections in North American porcupines have been reported, two of which also describe a coinfection with E. dorsatum papillomavirus types 1 and 2. Coinfections occur in this species and highlight the need for further investigation into their potential role in the pathogenesis of papillomavirus‐associated disease.