Susceptibility of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to oncogenic and attenuated strains of Herpesvirus saimiri.

Adult common marmosets, inoculated with either of 2 oncogenic Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) strains, developed fatal lymphoproliferative disease within 23-25 days post inoculation (PI). The disease was identical to HVS-induced lymphoma in cotton-topped and white-lipped marmosets. Common marmosets inoculated with an attenuated HVS strain developed persistent infection; virus has been recovered from cocultivated lymphocytes of these animals for more than 384 days PI.