Induction of lymphoid hyperplasia and lymphoma‐like disease in rabbits by herpesvirus sylvilagus

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Abstract
Herpesvirus sylvilagus, a recently recognized virus indigenous to cottontail rabbits, was examined for its ability to produce experimental disease in its natural host. Infection led to the establishment of a persisting low‐grade viremia in which virus was found in the cellular portion of the blood for the entire observation period. Pathologic changes seen in infected animals were related exclusively to stimulation of the lymphoid organs which varied in intensity from mild to apparently malignant. The response in all cotton tails was a generalized lymphoid hyperplasia with a corresponding lymphocytosis and the appearance of large numbers of abnormal mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood. In addition, 27% of immature cottontails (juveniles) and 10% of adult animals showed a loss of normal lymph‐node structure and massive mononuclear cell infiltration of other organs which was unrelated to destruction of parenchymal cells by the virus and which resembled, in some respects, the histologic picture seen in malignant lymphoma.

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