Sendai virus, named after the Japanese site of first isolate was once endemic to many conventional mouse colonies. Respiratory lesions can invalidate long-term carcinogenesis/toxicology studies.

Control:

1. Only purchase specific pathogen free (SPF) mice ie those screened by serology as being unexposed to many viruses, bacteria and mycoplasma.

2. In an outbreak. Slaughter of whole colony, disinfection, formalin fumigation, rederive special strains by embryo-transfer.