Spontaneous Herpesvirus saimiri Lymphoma in an Owl Monkey

Abstract

Two examples of spontaneous malignant lymphoma in owl monkeys are described. Herpesvirus saimiri was isolated from peripheral lymphocytes, kidney, and liver of one animal. These findings provide, for the first time, evidence suggesting that H. saimiri can cause spontaneous lymphoma in owl monkeys and that a herpesvirus-induced malignancy of mammals can be a contagious disease.