Further evidence for papovavirus as the probable etiology of transmissible lymphoma of Syrian hamsters
Barthold, S.W.; Bhatt, P.N.; Johnson, E.A.
Laboratory Animal Science 37(3): 283-288
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-6764 PMID: 3613507 Document Number: 289082
The role of hamster papovavirus as the etiology of transmissible lymphoma was investigated under strict conditions that prevented natural exposure to the lymphoma agent. In an initial experiment, 19 hamsters that were exposed naturally to transmissible lymphoma were placed in direct and indirect contact with weanling hamsters from an uninfected source. Lymphoma developed in the original infected hamsters as well as hamsters maintained in direct and indirect contact. In addition, one of the contact hamsters developed cutaneous epitheliomas, containing hamsters papovavirus. Epithelioma homogenate was inoculated into primary hamster embryo cultures, in which hamster papovavirus replicated. Second and third passage tissue culture fluid containing hamster papovavirus induced lymphomas in suckling and weanling hamsters. Cell culture fluid from uninoculated embryo cultures was not oncogenic.