Aims The diversity and the geographical distribution of swine papillomaviruses (PVs) are virtually unknown. The occurrence and the diversity of swine PV were therefore investigated in pig slurry collected in Italy, to contribute towards filling this gap in knowledge. Methods and Results Twenty-two slurry samples underwent analysis by nested PCR and DNA sequencing using published and newly designed specific primer pairs for Sus scrofa papillomavirus (SsPV) type 1 and 2 (SsPV1 and 2), along with degenerate PV-specific primers targeting the major coat protein L1 and the helicase protein E1. Overall, three samples (13 center dot 6%) were positive for SsPV1 by specific primers, and nucleotide (nt) sequences showed 99-100% nt identity with SsPV1 variant a (), while SsPV2 was not found in any sample. Using generic primers, eight samples (36 center dot 4%) were tested positive for human papillomavirus (HPV), and were characterized as follows: beta 1-HPV8, beta 1-HPV14, beta 1-HPV206, beta 2-HPV113, beta 2-HPV120 and gamma 1-HPV173. Moreover, one unclassified gamma-type was detected. Conclusions Both swine and human PVs were detected in pig slurry in this study. The unexpected presence of HPV in pig waste could be explained as the result of an improper use of the sewage collection pits and/or with improper procedures of the operators. Significance and Impact of the Study This study reports the first detection of SsPV1 in Italy, along with the first detection of HPVs in pig slurry samples in Italy, and expands our knowledge about PV diversity and geographic distribution.