Virus particles in the cochlear spiral ganglion of guinea pigs.

All examined spiral ganglions of several guinea pig populations from different breeds showed intracytoplasmic viruses in some granular spiral ganglion cells. According to their localization and morphology we classify these viruses with the oncorna group. This is not in agreement with the classification of other authors. Apparently there is a world-wide latent viral infection in guinea pigs. Beside the virus particles we found an accumulation of lysosomes which indicate a local increased lysosomal activity of the infected ganglion cells. Further influences on the infected cells can neither be demonstrated nor denied.