Screening for bovine papillomavirus type 13 (BPV13) in a European population of sarcoid-bearing equids.

Despite its moderate size, the sample was considered representative enough to suggest a low occurrence of BPV13 in Austria, as it randomly comprised equine patients of different breed, age, gender, and European provenience. BPV13 was not associated with tested sarcoids in rescued donkeys originating from several other European countries. Large-scale BPV13 screenings are necessary to allow for a more precise estimation of the prevalence and distribution of BPV13 infections in European equids suffering from sarcoid disease.