Herpesvirus saimiri: protective effect of attenuated strain against lymphoma induction.

An attenuated strain of Herpesvirus saimiri (A-HVS) induced a persistent, latent infection in common marmosets. Virus was recovered from circulating lymphocytes of infected animals and antibody response to virus-specified antigens was demonstrated over 3-12 months PI. A-HVS-infected common marmosets and animals without previous A-HVS exposure were challenged with oncogenic HVS (125-825 PFU); marmosets without A-HVS infection developed malignant lymphoproliferative disease and died 3 weeks PI whereas all persistently-infected animals have survived 38-43 months post challenge.