A Lymphocytopenic Filterable Agent Derived From Tissue Cell Cultures of Murine Carcinoma2

Abstract

A lymphocytopenic virus was isolated from a cell culture derived from a strain of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and from the mouse passage strain of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. The virus was not cytopathic in tissue culture but was infective in adult mice in the several strains tested. The major pathologic changes were in the spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus and resulted in a marked diminution of lymphocytes, accompanied by degenerative hepatitis and the development of peritoneal and pleural fluid. The infection was of short duration and was followed by morphologic and functional regeneration of tissue. In the period post infection, the Swiss and C3H mice developed a fibrous encapsulation of the visceral organs. The pathologic changes associated with this virus are different from those known to be associated with mouse hepatitis, and Reo III and murine leukemia viruses.