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Cutaneous fibroma, sometimes known as deer warts, are hairless tumors caused by the papillomavirus. This virus is species-specific and typically only infects white-tailed deer but may also be present in other members of the deer family such as elk.
Visible black or gray, hairless lesions, mostly smooth, but sometimes roughened or "warty" in appearance. They can appear anywhere on the skin of a deer but are mostly found on the head and neck. They can be a single lesion or appear in clumps. In severe cases, lesions may cluster or develop a large enough size that they can interfere with the deer's sight, breathing, eating, or walking.
The disease is spread directly through deer-to-deer contact, especially in bucks during the rut, or through contact with an environment contaminated with the virus, often infecting a deer through a break in the skin.
By observation of lesions appearing on an infected deer.
Deer are not treated for cutaneous fibroma as most deer can live normally with the disease. Some infections can resolve on their own, but in severe cases where the animal's ability to eat and survive are compromised, humane euthanasia to prevent suffering is considered. Because most individuals are only mildly affected and severe cases are rare, this disease is not considered significant and does not have any population-level impacts.
Cutaneous fibromas seen on white-tailed deer and elk are caused by a species-specific papillomavirus that cannot infect people or other animals.
Cutaneous fibromas don't pose a significant threat to public health or deer populations. Management of prevention of the disease is not recommended.