The presence of DNA sequences of the Lucké herpesvirus in normal and neoplastic kidney tissue of Rana pipiens

The Lucké tumour herpesvirus (LTV) is the aetiological agent of the Lucké renal adenocarcinoma of the northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens. LTV virions can be detected by electron microscopy in renal adenocarcinomata after prolonged exposure to low temperature. Tumours maintained at warm temperatures do not contain viral particles. To gain insight into the processes of viral infection, replication and oncogenesis, evidence was sought for the presence of LTV DNA in warm renal tumours and normal renal tissue. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify a Hind III restriction fragment of LTV DNA in tissue homogenates. LTV DNA was detected in a significant percentage of normal kidneys as well as in “virus-free” warm tumours and virus-containing cold tumours.