Proliferation of T lymphoblasts in rabbits fatally infected with the herpes virus of malignant catarrhal fever.

Lymphoid cell suspensions prepared from tissues collected from rabbits infected with malignant catarrhal fever virus, a herpes virus causing fatal lymphoproliferative disease in cattle and rabbits, were examined for various properties. The majority of the proliferating cells did not adhere to plastic, phagocytose opsonized bacteria or carry surface immunoglobulin. On the basis of their morphology, high incorporation of 3H-thymidine and ability to form non-immune rosettes with rabbit erythrocytes it is probable that these cells are T lymphoblasts.