Clinicopathologic characterization of Herpesvirus saimiri malignant lymphoma in New Zealand white rabbits.

Twenty-two of 39 rabbits inoculated with Herpesvirus saimiri developed malignant lymphoma and either died or were killed between 17 and 165 days after inoculation. No clinical signs were present in animals developing the disease before 46 days, but all other rabbits had a severe conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, and dyspnea resulting from a lymphocytic invasion of the ocular and nasal tissues. Four rabbits developed terminal leukemia. Pathologically, the disease resembled H. saimiri malignant lymphoma in nonhuman primates; there was extensive diffuse infiltration of most organs and tissues with either a lymphocytic or lymphoblastic infiltrate. Tumor nodules or masses seen in some forms of malignant lymphoma were not present. In contrast to nonhuman primates, all affected rabbits showed invasion of the skin of the nose and eyelids, conjunctiva, iris, ciliary body, and choroid. In 3 rabbits there was slight infiltration into the brain, not noted in nonhuman primates. The susceptibility of rabbits extended the host range of H. saimiri beyond the order Primates.