BODY-TEMPERATURE AND TUMOR-VIRUS INFECTION .1. TUMOROGENICITY OF ROUS-SARCOMA VIRUS FOR REPTILES

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24  (1) , 3-19
Abstract
Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) was oncogenic for 9 spp. of reptiles representing 6 families from Chelonia and Squamata orders: from the family Testudinidae, Testudo horsfieldi; from the family Agamidae, Agama sanguinolenta and A. erythrogastra; from the family Lacertidae, Eremias persica, E. velox and E. grammica; from the family Scincidae, Eumeces taeniolatus; and from the family Bordea, Erix tataricus and Ancistrodon blomhoffi. RSV did not induce tumors in 13 spp. of reptiles studied. Histologically 26 reptile tumors studied were polymorphous sarcomas with spindle-shaped (fibroblast-like), round and polygonal macrophage-like cells and sometimes peculiar giant polynuclear cells. Chromosomal analysis showed that reptile tumors arose from reptile cells. RSV was pathogenic for adult reptiles. Reptile tumors did not contain mature infectious virus. The tumors of 2 snakes were virogenic. The effect of increased temperature at the body level on the transformation of a symptomless viral infection into a viral disease is discussed evolutionarily.