An infection with fibromas is called fibromatosis. Fibromas are conspicuous as firm, nodular masses fastened only to the skin and varying in diameter from 10 to more than 100mm. All are fleshy. Some are covered with gray or dark skin which often is scratched and bleeding. Others have a black, dry, hard surface that may be fissured much like the head of a cauliflower. The larger ones tend to be pendu- lous because of their weight and stem-like attach- ment to the skin. Fibromas are randomly distributed on deer but occur most frequently about the eyes, neck, face, and forelegs. They may be Description Wart-like growths found on the skin of white- tailed deer and other members of the deer fam- ily are fibromas. They are popularly referred to as skin tumors, or simply warts. Histopatholo- gists identify skin tumors from deer as papillo- mas, fibromas, or papillofibromas depending upon the predominate type of tissue making up the tumor. Since there is evidence that skin tumors common to deer are caused by one kind of virus, and the differences that have been de- scribed for them is due to their age, all will be treated as one, the fibroma, in this discussion. Disease in Focus Deer fibroma Disease Investigation Update Oral squamous papillomas in an Indiana Coyote In January 2011, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Serices Wildlife Disease Biologist Caudell was referred to a landowner in northeast Indiana who had shot a coy- ote with obvious signs of disease around the muzzle. Caudell picked up the animal and prepared it for submis- sion to the diagnostic lab at the Na- tional Wildlife Health Center (NWHC). The coyote was shipped to the NWHC in March 2011. The coyote was nega- tive for heartworm, distemper, parvo virus, and was generally in good condi- tion. The coyote was diagnosed with multiple squamous papillomas of the mouth of an unknown origin. While this is not common is coyotes, it has been reported several times in the lit- erature (Trainer et al. 1968, Samuel et al. 1978). A JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN USDA APHIS WILDLIFE SERVICES AND INDIANA DNR DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE Spring 2011 Volume 6, Issue 2 Indiana Wildlife Disease News Special points of interest: Deer fibroma Results from Ft. Wayne Coyote Update on WNS and other disease in the Mid- west Information on new Hepatitis E surveillance Inside this issue: Deer fibroma 1 Oral papillomas in coyotes 1 Coronavirus sur- veillance in turkey 3 Hepatitis E sur- veillance in wildlife 4 Midwest Wildlife Disease Update 5 Continued on pg. 2 References Samuel, W. M., G. A. Chalmers, and J. R. Gunson. 1978. Oral papillomatosis in coyotes and wolves of Alberta. Jour- nal of Wildlife Diseases 14:165-169. Trainer, D. O., F. F. Knowlton, and L. Karstad. 1968. Oral papillomatosis in the coyote (case report). Bulletin of the Wildlife Disease Association 4:52-54. J. N. Caudell, USDA
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An infection with fibromas is called fibromatosis.
Fibromas are conspicuous as firm, nodular masses
fastened only to the skin and varying in diameter
from 10 to more than 100mm. All are fleshy. Some
are covered with gray or dark skin which often is
scratched and bleeding. Others have a black, dry,
hard surface that may be fissured much like the head
of a cauliflower. The larger ones tend to be pendu-
lous because of their weight and stem-like attach-
ment to the skin.
Fibromas are randomly distributed on deer but
occur most frequently about the eyes, neck, face,
and forelegs. They may be
Description
Wart-like growths found on the skin of white-
tailed deer and other members of the deer fam-
ily are fibromas. They are popularly referred to
as skin tumors, or simply warts. Histopatholo-
gists identify skin tumors from deer as papillo-
mas, fibromas, or papillofibromas depending
upon the predominate type of tissue making up
the tumor. Since there is evidence that skin
tumors common to deer are caused by one kind
of virus, and the differences that have been de-
scribed for them is due to their age, all will be
treated as one, the fibroma, in this discussion.
Disease in Focus
Deer fibroma
Disease Investigation Update
Oral squamous papillomas in an
Indiana Coyote
In January 2011, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife
Serices Wildlife Disease Biologist
Caudell was referred to a landowner in
northeast Indiana who had shot a coy-
ote with obvious signs of disease
around the muzzle. Caudell picked up
the animal and prepared it for submis-
sion to the diagnostic lab at the Na-
tional Wildlife Health Center (NWHC).
The coyote was shipped to the NWHC
in March 2011. The coyote was nega-
tive for heartworm, distemper, parvo
virus, and was generally in good condi-
tion. The coyote was diagnosed with
multiple squamous papillomas of the
mouth of an unknown origin. While
this is not common is coyotes, it has
been reported several times in the lit-
erature (Trainer et al. 1968, Samuel et
al. 1978).
A JOINT PROJECT
BETWEEN
USDA APHIS
WILDLIFE SERVICES
AND
INDIANA DNR
DIVISION OF FISH AND
WILDLIFE
Spring 2011 Volume 6, Issue 2
Indiana Wildlife
Disease News Special points of
interest:
Deer fibroma
Results from Ft. Wayne
Coyote
Update on WNS and
other disease in the Mid-
west
Information on new
Hepatitis E surveillance
Inside this issue:
Deer fibroma 1
Oral papillomas in
coyotes
1
Coronavirus sur-
veillance in turkey
3
Hepatitis E sur-
veillance in wildlife
4
Midwest Wildlife
Disease Update
5
Continued on pg. 2
References
Samuel, W. M., G. A. Chalmers, and J. R. Gunson. 1978.
Oral papillomatosis in coyotes and wolves of Alberta. Jour-
nal of Wildlife Diseases 14:165-169.
Trainer, D. O., F. F. Knowlton, and L. Karstad. 1968. Oral
papillomatosis in the coyote (case report). Bulletin of the
Wildlife Disease Association 4:52-54.
J. N. Caudell, USDA
Page 2 Volume 6, Issue 2
Deer fibromas (Cont. from pg 1)
Treatment and Control
It has been learned from experiments that infections stimulate an
immune response in host deer, and thus become self-limiting. In
most deer, the fibromas develop to only a few mm in diameter;
they abruptly stop growing, dry up, and disappear. Only in an
occasional deer do they develop into conspicuous skin tumors.
Results of the New York survey indicate that wild deer are ex-
posed and develop an immunity to the fibroma virus early in life.
Treatment is not feasible for most wild populations. The disease
has not been reported as a problem in captive herds. Presuma-
bly, the growths could be removed surgically if it became impor-
tant. Since exposure to the virus leads to immunity, it should be
possible to develop a vaccine if prevention becomes necessary.
To date, clinical disease has been too rare to justify such actions.
Significance
Fibromatosis is not an important cause of deer mortality. The
disease is not known to infect humans. It's main significance lies
in the consternation and concern experienced by the hunter who
shoots a deer covered with ugly-looking lumps. Though they
don't harm the meat, fibromas are repulsive to most persons and
therefore render a fine trophy aesthetically undesirable.
Some domesticated animals (cattle, dogs, etc.) are subject to
"warts" common to their kind. There is no reason to believe that
fibromatosis of deer is infectious to domestic animals.
single or multiple. A heavily infected deer may
have 25 or more. Occasionally, in multiple
infections, they are so numerous and close
together that they join into a coalescent mass.
However, the incidence of severe involvement
is extremely low, judging from the fact that not
more than 2 or 3 cases in the whole state are
reported to us a year.
Distribution
The disease occurs statewide in Michigan, and
has been reported in white-tailed deer, black-
tailed deer, and mule deer over much of their
respective North American ranges. Similar skin
tumors have been reported from moose on
Isle Royale and in British Columbia.
In a survey made in New York state it was
found that the incidence of fibromatosis is high-
est in deer 2.5 years of age and younger, and 5
times higher among bucks than does. Records
obtained for Michigan through necropsies, field
reports, and check station operations also
indicate this is primarily a disease of young
male deer.
Transmission and Development
Fibromas can be experimentally transmitted by rubbing fibroma
tissue onto the scratched skin of a susceptible deer. How
transmission is accomplished in the wild is not known. Possibly,
it is through contact of broken skin with infectious material,
either from an infected deer or vegetation which has been
rubbed or brushed by an infected deer. The fact the incidence
is highest among bucks suggests that fighting is a means for the
spread of the disease. Biting insects may possibly be responsible
since many viruses are transmitted by insect vectors.
Clinical Signs and Pathology
The fleshy or wart-like growths attached to the skin are the
only sign of fibromatosis. Infected deer behave normally unless
the location of the fibromas blocks vision or results in other
physical impediment to normal activities.
On cross section, fibromas show a white, tough core of uni-
form texture covered with a rind of varying thickness and
color. Those with a thin layer of skin show a thin and lightly
pigmented rind, while those with a hard fissure external surface
have a thick dark rind.
Fibromas involve only the skin and have no direct effect on the
general health of deer. There may be a secondary effect if the
growths are particularly large and located where they cause
physical difficulties as in seeing, eating, and running.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on the gross appearance and structure of
the growths, and the fact they are attached only to the skin,
not the underlying muscles and bones. Confirmation is based
on microscopic examination of the tumor tissue.
Source: Michigan DNR Wildlife Disease Manual found at http://