Mouse Papillomavirus Outbreak in a Research Facility.

Abstract

The use of mouse papillomavirus (MmuPV1) to study infections, disease outcomes, and vaccine strategies in mice has greatly enhanced our understanding of human papillomavirus. However, as with other species-specific infectious agents used as models for human disease, such studies may pose a risk to facilities that house large numbers of the model agent's natural host, especially when the full natural history of the infection is uncertain. In this study, we describe our recent experience showing that containment of MmuPV1 can be difficult, and that its use in research facilities may cause unexpected, long-lasting environmental contamination. Following the identification of symptomatic index cases of MmuPV1 in nude mice, we identified widespread contamination of an ∼10,000 cage facility, including MmuPV1 infection in mice of varying strains and immunocompetencies. Concerningly, many years separated the experimental use of MmuPV1 in the facility and our subsequent identification of index cases. We report our methods to identify, survey, and eliminate MmuPV1 from the facility, and the evolution of decontamination procedures that proved successful.