Provided is an animal model system for the study of papillomaviruses, especially anogenital papillomaviruses, especially those causing anogenital and/or head and neck cancers. The Rhesus papillomavirus (especially RhPV1) is a useful model for human papillomaviruses which cause anogenital infections and cancers of the anogenital region and/or the head, neck and respiratory system.