Enhanced replication of murine cytomegalovirus in murine leukemic lymphocytes

Replication in vitro of murine cytomegalovirus was found to be enhanced in lymphoid cells from leukemic (AKR/J) mice as compared with similar cells from nonleukemic animals. Prolonged productive murine cytomegalovirus infection in lymphoid organs in vivo was demonstrable only in leukemic AKR/J mice. Latent nonproductive murine cytomegalovirus infection established in young nonleukemic AKR/J mice was invariably reactivated and expressed in salivary glands and lymphoid organs after these animals became leukemic.