This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ashe, W. K. Articles by Fitzgerald, R. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ashe, W. K. Articles by Fitzgerald, R. J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1965 December; 90(6): 1719-1729
Copyright © 1965 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Previously Unrecognized Virus from Submaxillary Glands of Gnotobiotic and Conventional Rats

Laboratory of Microbiology, National Institute of Dental Research, U.S. Public Health Service, Bethesda, Maryland

ABSTRACT

ASHE, WARREN K. (National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, Md.), HENRY W. SCHERP, AND ROBERT J. FITZGERALD. Previously unrecognized virus from submaxillary glands of gnotobiotic and conventional rats. J. Bacteriol. 90:1719–1729. 1965.—A serially transmissible cytopathic agent was isolated from histologically normal submaxillary glands, but not from various other tissues or specimens, from 74 of 97 gnotobiotic and conventional rats. Triturates of the glands or subsequent culture supernatant fluids induced specific cytopathic effects (CPE) in monolayer cultures of primary rabbit kidney cells (14 passages), a line of human skin cells (8 passages), and HeLa cells (17 passages). Transfer of supernatant fluids containing infected cells enhanced transmissibility. Neutralization of the CPE was demonstrated with sera of gnotobiotic and conventional rats and with homologous rabbit antiserum. A cold hemagglutinin specific for rabbit erythrocytes is associated with, but separable from, the infectious particle. Cultures of the agent induced no discernible effect on inoculation by various routes into suckling, weanling, or adult conventional mice, rats, and hamsters. Weanling and adult rabbits were also unaffected. Cultures for bacteria in gland extracts and infected cell supernatant fluids were uniformly negative. Negative cultures on PPLO media and negative arginine deiminase tests indicated that this agent is not a Mycoplasma. The data indicate that it is a virus whose biological and physical properties distinguish it from the known cytomegaloviruses. Because it has been found so far only in rat submaxillary glands, this agent is designated provisionally as RSMG virus.