Polyoma Virus

Prepared by: Michael J. Huerkamp, DVM, Diplomate ACLAM
Date: April 7, 1999

Agent: Polyoma Virus

Polyoma virus is infectious for mice and rats, not humans or other animals.

Potential Hazard: None to humans. Polyoma virus is highly contagious to other mice and rats and is shed in large quantities in the urine, saliva, and feces of infected mice. Transmission is usually intranasal via airborne virus and infection lasts for lengthy periods. Clinical signs are usually absent in mice and rats except for nude rats which may develop tumors of the salivary glands and nude mice which may become paralyzed. Polyoma virus can complicate immunologic, infectious disease or cancer studies. Consequently, these mice are housed under BSL2+ conditions to protect other rodents.

Recommended Precautions: The animal biosafety level II+ practices (DAR SOP 400-15) are sufficient to contain this virus and protect other mice from exposure.

References:Companion Guide to Infectious Diseases of Mice and Rats, NRC, 1991, pp. 41-2.