title: Evidence of an oncogenic gammaherpesvirus in domestic dogs.
abstract: In humans, chronic infection with the gammaherpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus is usually asymptomatic; however some infected individuals develop hematological and epithelial malignancies. The exact role of EBV in lymphomagenesis is poorly understood partly because of the lack of clinically relevant animal models. Here we report the detection of serological responses against EBV capsid antigens in healthy dogs and dogs with spontaneous lymphoma and that dogs with the highest antibody titers have B cell lymphoma. Moreover, we demonstrate the presence of EBV-like viral DNA and RNA sequences and Latent Membrane Protein-1 in malignant lymph nodes of dogs with lymphoma. Finally, electron microscopy of canine malignant B cells revealed the presence of classic herpesvirus particles. These findings suggest that dogs can be naturally infected with an EBV-like gammaherpesvirus that may contribute to lymphomagenesis and that dogs might represent a spontaneous model to investigate environmental and genetic factors that influence gammaherpesvirus-associated lymphomagenesis in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010, USA. ncku309@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shih-Hung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kozak
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Habineza-Ndikuyeze
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meade
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaurnier-Hausser
authors.forename: Reema
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Erle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004285:Dogs; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G