Virus-Associated Tumours of the Harderian Gland in Laboratory-Reared Voles, Clethrionomys rutilis (Pallas)

Tumors of the Harderian gland occurred frequently in red-backed voles, Clethrionomys rutilus (Pallas), in a captive colony maintained since 1957. Although the tumors became obvious only in animals about a year old and older, early stage changes were histologically evident in glands from younger, clinically normal voles. The tumors ranged in type from poorly differentiated adenoma to adenocarcinoma, with invasion of adjacent tissues and characteristic deformation of the zygomata. Electron micrographs disclosed viral particles in the cytoplasm of glands from clinically normal animals as well as in glands showing malignant changes. The tumor was not observed in arvicoline rodents of other species maintained in the same rooms with the red-backed voles.