Evaluation of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from vaccine site-associated sarcomas of cats for polyomavirus DNA and antigen

Objective-To determine whether vaccine site-associated sarcomas (VSS) from cats contain polyomavirus antigen or DNA. Sample Population-50 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of VSS from cats. Procedure-Sections from each tissue block were evaluated for polyomavirus a ntigen by use of an avidin-biotin-complex immunohistochemical staining meth od, using rabbit anti-murine polyomavirus polyclonal antiserum as the prima ry antibody. The DNA was extracted from sections of each tissue block, and a polymerase chain reaction assay was performed, using primers designed to amplify regions of the bovine polyomavirus genome and consensus polyomaviru s primers designed to detect unknown polyomaviruses. Results-Polyomavirus antigen and DNA were not detected in any of the VSS. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggest that polyomaviruses like ly do not have any direct involvement in the pathogenesis of VSS in cats.