Isolation and Characterization of a Herpes-like Virus from New Zealand Albino Rabbit Kidney Cell Cultures: a Probable Reisolation of Virus III of Rivers

An agent which possesses the physical, chemical, cytopathic, histological, and electron microscopic attributes of a herpes group virus was isolated from an uninoculated batch of primary rabbit kidney cell cultures. Preliminary evidence indicates that antibodies against the agent are found in some sera of other "normal" New Zealand albino rabbits. In cell cultures, the virus grew best and almost exclusively in cells of rabbit origin. On the basis of these facts, the name herpesvirus cuniculi (HC) is suggested for the isolate. A batch of anti-herpesvirus bovis antiserum prepared in rabbits was found to be "contaminated" with unsuspected neutralizing antibodies against HC. Caution is mandatory when using rabbits, rabbit tissues, or rabbit sera for work with any herpes group virus unless precautions are taken to rule out unsuspected infection with or antibodies against HC. This agent may well represent a reisolation of virus III, a rabbit herpes virus, described by Rivers in 1923; the isolation of this virus has not been reported since 1940. It is important to reemphasize the existence of this agent in an animal which is commonly used for laboratory investigation of herpes group viruses.