Feline Malignant Mammary Tumors. II. Immunologic and Electron Microscopic Investigations Into a Possible Viral Etiology

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Virus-like particles (C-type particles, those in the endoplasmic reticulum, or particles with concentric shells) were observed with the electron microscope in 6 of 24 feline mammary carcinomas, but not in 4 benign mammary tumors, 4 mammary glands of normal cats, or 1 pancreas carcinoma. They were also found in 3 of 5 pellets prepared by differential centrifugation from mammary tumors. Of 51 mammary carcinomas tested immunologically, 11 showed fluorescence with the antifeline leukemia virus (anti-FeLV) serum, but not with the antisera against mouse mammary tumor virus, Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, and the rat R-35 mammary tumor virus. Benign mammary tumors, mammary sarcomas, mammary glands of normal cats, and other feline tumors were negative with all antisera. The presence of FeLV in 21% of the mammary carcinomas of cats from households without a history of FeLV-associated disease suggested that the relationship between FeLV and feline mammary carcinomas was not coincidental. The nature of the virus or viruses detected in this study and their function as causal factors of feline mammary carcinomas were discussed.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: