Tail lesions in C3H/He mice

C3H/He mice obtained from different suppliers developed tail lesions shortly after arrival. Histologically no inclusion bodies could be shown. A serological survey of diseased mice was negative for those viruses which may cause skin lesions. The disease could not be transmitted to healthy mice and no virus could be cultured from the skin lesions. It is concluded that the syndrome was induced by stress, in this case transport from the United Kingdom to the Netherlands.