Presence of mouse mammary tumor virus specifically alters the body odor of mice.

It has long been recognized that various genetic and metabolic human disorders alter body odor, which is not surprising because they may alter body chemistry. Thus, it has been suggested that some human diseases may be diagnosed by odor alone. In that regard, the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) and its tumors of mice, which may have human counterparts, are of special interest because of the need for basic research possible only in inbred and genetically defined animals.