The plaque-forming factor for mink lung cells present in cytomegalovirus and herpes-zoster virus stocks identified as Mycoplasma hyorhinis.

Previous investigation of the ability of cytomegalovirus and varicella-zoster virus to replicate in a variety of cell lines suggested that both virus types plaqued with high efficiency in mink lung cells. However, many of the virus isolates used appeared to be contaminated with mycoplasma. We now report that the observed cytopathic effect is due to a mycoplasma which grows lytically to high titre in mink lung cells, but is difficult to cultivate in cell-free media. The mycoplasma was plaque-purified and shown to contain DNA with a buoyant density of 1.684 g/ml, with restriction endonuclease patterns identical to the porcine mycoplasma M. hyorhinis. This was confirmed by serological identification.