Cytogenetic, cytological, and virological characteristics of a bovine fibrosarcoma.

The features of a bovine tumor with typical histopathological characteristics of a malignant fibrosarcoma are described. Direct karyotype preparations from the tumor tissue showed two populations of cells with bizarre karyotypes. An in vitro cell culture, designated BS-2, derived from the tumor had a normal diploid karyotype. This culture formed syncytia and produced a virus morphologically indistinguishable from the ubiquitous bovine syncytial virus. BS-2 cells reacted strongly in immunofluorescent tests with both bovine syncytial virus reference serum and serum from the tumorous cow. The virus was also demonstrated by immunofluorescence and mixed culture techniques in the buffy coat cells of the same cow.