Intestinal lymphomas in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Pathological examination of 226 adult hamsters culled in a commercial breeding colony because of health deterioration revealed malignant lymphomas arising from the intestines of 24 animals. Histologically the tumours were classified as centrocytic-centroblastic lymphomas. They were transplantable with cellular suspension, but not with serum or cell-free ascitic fluid of the tumour bearers. The tumor did not metastasize into the spleen. Other types of lymphomas were not diagnosed.