Electron microscopy observations on a new herpes-type virus isolated from Iguana iguana and propagated in reptilian cells in vitro.

Ultrastructural observations on a new viral isolate, designated iguana virus, indicate that it is consistently present in intranuclear inclusions, possesses a +/- 115-nm nucleocapsid, ranges from 165 to 300 nm in diameter in the enveloped form, and exhibits cubic symmetry (probably 162 capsomeres). It is concluded that it is a herpes-type virus, the morphological evidence being in agreement with and supporting the biological and physical characteristics presented by Clark and Karzon. Several fine-structural features, among them the encapsidization of small 35-nm hexagonal bodies and the viral membrane envelope enclosure of cell-derived moieties are presented and discussed.