The oncogenic potential of eleven avian adenovirus strains.

Oncogenic potentials of 11 strains of avian adenovirus representing 10 serotypes were investigated in 22 litters of 1-day-old Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Hamsters were inoculated via two routes: subcutaneous dose of 0.12 ml and intracerebral dose of 0.02 ml. Six strains, Indiana-C (Ind-C), chicken embryo lethal orphan (CELO), Stein, 75-1A, B-3, and A-2, induced fibrosarcomas subcutaneously at the inoculation site. Hamsters inoculated intracerebrally with Ind-C, CELO, Stein, B-3, and A-2 developed carcinomas of the choroid plexus. Strain 75-1A virus produced tumors on subcutaneous inoculation but failed to produce tumors on intracerebral inoculation. The Tipton, J-2, T-8, C-2B, and X-11 strains did not produce tumors in hamsters. Uninoculated control hamsters did not develop tumors.