A FILTRABLE VIRUS CAUSING A TUMOR-LIKE CONDITION IN RABBITS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO VIRUS MYXOMATOSUM

Abstract

The properties of the agent causing the condition indicate that it is a filterable virus. While the tumor-like condition and infectious myxoma differ markedly in clinical and pathological pictures, they were apparently related immunologically. A rabbit recovered from tumor is resistant to infection with virus myxomatosum, although serum from a tumor-recovered rabbit fails to neutralize this virus. Serum from a rabbit recovered from tumor and subsequently inoculated with virus myxomatosum will then completely neutralize that virus. The tumor-inducing virus and virus myxomatosum are probably related, although not necessarily identical.