The minor capsid protein L2 of bovine papillomavirus type 4 (BPV-4) is a very effective prophylactic vaccine which induces the production of virus neutralising antibodies and prevents virus-induced papillomatosis. The virus neutralising activity resides in the first 200 N-terminal amino acids of L2 (L2a). To further investigate the humoral immune response to L2, and the role it plays during infection and in prophylactic vaccination, the presentation of B-cell linear epitopes of L2a has been analysed in calves infected with the virus but not vaccinated, and in calves vaccinated with virus, L2a or E7. Several B-cell epitopes have been identified in L2a by the use of overlapping peptides; the epitopes varied in the different groups of animals, indicating that the epitopes presented by denatured L2 are not presented by the virus, and that therefore, although responsible for L2 vaccine-induced immunity, they may play little role in naturally acquired immunity.