W. C. DOLOWY AND L. J. SWANGO 
1025 
viruses of cats and dogs although a poxvirus 
was isolated from laboratory sparrows. The 
sparrow pox diagnosis resulted in a specific 
research project which is described below under 
the discussion of the research section. 
In addition, the virology section of the diag- 
nostic laboratory has been instrumental in co- 
ordinating efforts for the diagnosis of murine 
viral infections. Sera from several groups of 
mice were submitted to Microbiological Asso- 
ciates, Inc., Bethesda, Md., for serologic testing. 
In certain instances, sera is submitted to the 
National Cancer Institute Ectromelia Diag- 
nostic Laboratory at the New Jersey College of 
Medicine and Dentistry, Newark, New Jersey, 
for serologic testing and/or virus isolation stud- 
ies. As a result of these efforts, it was found 
that mice supplied to one investigator on an 
NCI grant had antibody to 6 of the 12 viruses 
against which serologic tests were run. In an- 
other instance, 2 mice from different groups 
were found to have antibody against mousepox 
virus (ectromelia). It was also found by virus 
isolation studies that newly received transplant- 
able tumor material being used in cancer re- 
search in mice v/as infected with mousepox 
virus. Subsequent to the definitive diagnosis of 
latent mousepox virus infection in mouse tumor 
materials, vaccine was obtained, put into use in 
one colony, and made available to all investi- 
gators at the University of Washington who 
wanted to vaccinate their mice against ectro- 
melia. 
Several interesting diagnoses of spontaneous 
disease in laboratory animals were worthy of 
publication as case reports. The following are 
examples of cases that have been reported : 
1. Calcinosis circumscripta involving the 
mammary glands of a New Zealand 
white rabbit 2 
2. Amyloidosis and dermatomycosis in C57 
BL mice^ 
3. Fatal asphyxia in a baboon caused by a 
laryngeal peduncular fibroma * 
4. Peripheral carcinoid tumors of the lung 
in a rhesus monkey ^ 
Other diagnoses suggested a need for further 
research on the disease condition. Some of these 
have resulted in publishable results as described 
under the discussion on research. 
In order to ascertain the general attitude of 
investigators toward the service function of our 
diagnostic laboratory, a survey was conducted 
among researchers who had submitted animals 
to this laboratory during the first three years 
of its operation. A questionnaire and covering 
letter was mailed to 117 individuals. Of these, 
57 (48.7%) returned the completed question- 
naire, and 60 (51.3% ) did not reply. The follow- 
ing is a copy of the questionnaire with the sum- 
mary of the 57 replies tabulated : 
QUESTIONNAIRE 
Tabulated Summary of 
Absolute Responses 
Do Quest. 
Not Not 
Yes 
No 
Know 
Ans. 
1. 
Do you recall the fact that an animal was submitted and that you received a verbal 
or written report of our findings? 
54 
1 
0 
2 
2. 
Was our report of any interest to you? ... _ 
50 
4 
0 
3 
3. 
Did the report help you distinguish between an experimental and spontaneous disease? — 
30 
19 
1 
7 
3. a. Possibly heretofore unknown to you? — 
11 
17 
4 
25 
4. 
Did the findings ultimately result in more precise diagnosis or treatment by the clinical 
veterinarian of the condition in this or other animals in your experiments?. — 
24 
21 
3 
9 
5. 
Did the findings ultimately result in changes of purchasing, housing or conditioning 
procedures implemented by either you or the Vivarium stalT - 
19 
28 
0 
10 
6. 
Assuming that we would be able to continue this service on the same basis, i.e., no cost 
to you but supported in great part by NIH, would you like to see these services continue? 
49 
2 
3 
3 
7. 
Would you like to see additional categories of services added? (If so, please specify: examples 
would possibly include routine gross and histopathology of tissues from animals on 
experiment to be examined for result of experimental procedure, rather than for 
suspected spontaneous disease as is now practiced) 
24 
9 
15 
9 
8. 
What other comments do you choose to relate? — - 
21 
2 
1 
33 
(Signature) 
