Prevalence of murine C-type RNA virus group specific antigen in inbred strains of mice

The group-specific antigen of murine C-type virus(es) was detected in 80 per cent of “high-leukemia” strains of mice, 41 per cent in “intermediate” -leukemia strains and 23 per cent in “low”-leukemia strains. The prevalence of antigen increased with age in most strains, and genetically related strains had a similar incidence. Thus, the pattern of “virus-expression” is at least in part genetically determined, but can be modified by endogenous-physiological (age) and exogenous-environmental factors.