Lymphoma in Hamsters

A series of unusual infectious lymphoma outbreaks involving the golden, or Syrian, hamster first occurred in the 1970s, reports The British Hamster Association. Veterinary research into the disease since that time has uncovered hamster polyoma virus (HaPV) as the cause. This virus is somewhat new to the golden hamster population, and it's quite rare in individual pet hamsters.

  1. Significance

    • Although they occasionally make it to four years of age, golden hamsters tend to have short lives of no more than 2.5 years. This species weighs in as one of the largest of hamsters. The golden hamster came out of Syria in 1839, according to PetEducation.com. Hebrew University began breeding captive hamsters in the 1940s, which led to their release to the retail market by about 1945. Golden hamsters are calm, easygoing creatures. And they don't mind being handled, which makes them good pets for children.

    Hamster Polyoma Virus

    • The hamster polyoma virus, which causes lymphoma in the golden hamster, is believed to have started in European hamsters probably only a few decades ago. Although HaPV is a relatively rare virus, it has cropped up in colonies of both European and golden hamsters in Europe and North America. It doesn't affect any other animals.

      HaPV is categorized under the family of viruses known as the Papovaviridae. Papovaviruses are significant for the numerous diseases they cause. However, it is important to use the "polyoma virus" label when discussing hamster health because this makes clear that the virus causes multiple lymphomas. And it's language a vet will recognized immediately.

    Infection

    • Urine is often the source of infection with HaPV, making hygiene extremely important for hamster breeders in particular. Symptoms take anywhere from four to 30 weeks to show up, spreading throughout the animal's body. HaPV can cause multiple internal lymphoma tumors, but this doesn't always happen. Trichepitheliomas, wartlike nodules, sometimes develop around the eyes, mouth, anus and paws.

    Features

    • When HaPV infiltrates a population of hamsters, it spreads exceedingly fast, and often as many as 80 percent of the hamsters contract the virus and develop lymphoma. Eventually, the infection rate bottoms out and the younger individuals develop a resistance. Signs of the virus and lymphoma include weight loss, abdominal lumps and generally poor condition. Trichoepitheliomas may develop on the skin. Ultimately, the hamster may come down with demodectic mange, which presents as scaly skin that itches.

    Diagnosis and Treatment

    • Because lymphomas are very rare in young hamsters, any abdominal lumps or lethargy are highly indicative of HaPV. What's more, trichoepitheliomas offer a definitive diagnosis because these are always caused by the hamster polyoma virus. Currently, there is no reliable laboratory test for the HaPV.

      A specific treatment for individual hamsters with HaPV has yet to be developed. The course of action often involves euthanizing the infected group. Cages should then be disinfected using an antiviral agent, such as Virkon. HaPV is not a threat to individual hamster owners, and breeders will see the virus become less virulent over time.