Serologic study on the prevalence of murine viruses in five Canadian mouse colonies

A serologic study was made of five Canadian mouse colonies to determine the prevalence of antibodies to 11 murine viruses. A total of 139 sera from the five colonies were evaluated by complement fixation or hemagglutination inhibition methods. Viral antibodies were present in all five colonies. Antibodies to pneumonia virus of mice, minute virus of mice, Theiler's encephalomyelitis virus, and reovirus type 3 were found in all five colonies. K-virus antibodies were present in four colonies. Polyoma virus antibodies were found in two colonies and Sendai virus antibodies in two other colonies. Mouse hepatitis virus antibodies were present at a low prevalence in three of the five colonies. No antibodies to adenovirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and ectromelia were detected in any of the colonies.