A marsupial oncovirus?

A virus-like particle was observed in two continuous cell lines derived from the marsupial Sminthopsis crassicaudata (Fat-tailed Dunnart). The development of the particle was similar to the development of D-type oncoviruses. Initially, a crescentof nucleoid material was observed near the nucleus in the region of the Golgi apparatus. This crescent developed into a doughnut-shaped-A-type particle which migrated through the cytoplasm towards the cell membrane where it budded either into a smooth membrane cytoplasmic vacuole or from the cell membrane. Only enveloped A-type particles were observed; no mature B-type, C-type or D-type particles were detected.