Skip to main content
Log in

Canine distemper virus clearance in chronic inflammatory demyelination

  • Original Works
  • Published:
Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The distribution of canine distemper virus (CDV) antigen was examined in the brains of 14 dogs with chronic nervous distemper using a monoclonal antibody against a major viral protein. In ten of these dogs, neutralizing anti-CDV antibody titers were determined in serum and unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In 19% of the inflammatory demyelinating lesions, large amounts of CDV antigen were found; in 34% of these lesions only residual traces of virus were seen and in almost half of the lesions (47%) no CDV could be demonstrated. In four dogs neutralizing antibodies were found in the serum only; in one dog in the CSF only and in 5 dogs both in serum and CSF. Because of the correlation between the presence of inflammation, intrathecal antiviral antibodies and disappearance of CDV from the lesions, it was concluded that the inflammatory response in distemper is associated with viral clearance from the lesions. Associated immune-mediated cytotoxic reactions could explain exacerbation of the initial virus-induced demyelinating lesions. Despite the presence of an apparently effective intrathecal antiviral immune response, fresh non-inflammatory lesions as a result of viral replication and spread in the white matter coexisted with inflammatory ones in which viral clearance had taken place. The role and mechanism of such virus persistence are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Appel MJG, Robson DS (1973) A microneutralization test for canine distemper virus. Am J Vet Res 34:1459–1463

    Google Scholar 

  • Appel MJG, Shek WR, Summers BA (1982) Lymphocytemediated immune cytotoxicity in dogs infected with virulent canine distemper virus. Infect Immun 37:592–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Appel MJG, Mendelson SG, Hall WW (1984) Macrophage Fc receptors control infectivity and neutralization of canine distemper virus-antibody complexes. J Virol 51:643–649

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerruti-Sola S, Kristensen F, Vandevelde M, Bichsel P, Kihm U (1983) Lymphocyte responsiveness to lectin and myelin antigens in canine distemper infection in relation to the development of demyelinating lesions. J Neuroimmunol 4:77–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall WW, Imagawa DT, Choppin PW (1979) Immunological evidence for the synthesis of all canine distemper virus polypeptides in chronic neurological diseases in dogs. Chronic distemper and old dog encephalitis differ from SSPE in man. Virology 98:283–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho CK, Babiuk LA (1979) Immune mechanisms against canine distemper. II. Role of antibody and antigen modulation and prevention of intercellular and extracellular spread of canine distemper virus. Immunology 38:765–772

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho CK, Babiuk LA (1980) Immune mechanisms against canine distemper. III. Role of complement lysis in the immunity and persistent infection of canine distemper virus. Immunology 39:231–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Innes JRM, Saunders LZ (1962) Comparative neuropathology. Academic Press, New York, pp 373–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimoto T (1986) In vitro and in vivo properties of the virus causing natural canine distemper encephalitis. J Gen Virol 67:487–503

    Google Scholar 

  • Köhler G, Milstein C (1970) Continuous cultures of fused cells secreting antibody of predefined specificity. Nature 256:680–685

    Google Scholar 

  • Krakowka S, McCullough B, Koestner A, Olsen R (1973) Myelin-specific autoantibodies associated with central nervous system demyelination in canine distemper virus infection. Infect Immun 8:819–827

    Google Scholar 

  • Krakowka S, Olsen R, Confer A, Koestner A, McCullough B (1975) Serologic response to canine distemper viral antigens in gnotobiotic dogs infected with canine distemper virus. J Infect Dis 132:384–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Miele JA, Krakowka S (1983) Antibody responses to virion polypeptides in gnotobiotic dogs infected with canine distemper virus. Infect Immun 41:869–871

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapshak P, Graves MC, Imagawa DT (1982) Polypeptides of canine distemper virus strains derived from dogs with chronic neurological diseases. Virology 122:158–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberger LA (1979) Immunocytochemistry, 2nd edn Wiley, New York Chichester Brisbane Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • Summers BA, Greisen HA, Appel MJG (1983) Does virus persist in the uvea in multiple sclerosis, as in canine distemper encephalomyelitis? Lancet ii:372–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Summers BA, Greisen HA, Appel MJG (1984) Canine distemper and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the dog: comparative patterns of demyelination. J Comp Pathol 94:575–589

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandevelde M, Higgins RJ, Kristensen B, Kristensen F, Steck A, Kihm U (1982) Demyelination in experimental canine distemper virus infection: immunological, pathologic and immunohistological studies. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 56:285–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandevelde M, Zurbriggen A, Higgins RJ, Palmer D (1985) Spread and distribution of viral antigen in nervous canine distemper. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 67:211–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandevelde M, Zurbriggen A, Steck A, Bichsel P (1986) Studies on the intrathecal humoral immune response in canine distemper encephalitis. J Neuroimmunol 11:41–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Zurbriggen A, Vandevelde M, Dumas M (1986) Secondary degeneration of oligodendrocytes in canine distemper virus infection in vitro. Lab Invest 54:424–431

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Dedicated to Prof. F. Seitelberger on the occasion of his seventieth birthday

Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 3.949.84) and the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bollo, E., Zurbriggen, A., Vandevelde, M. et al. Canine distemper virus clearance in chronic inflammatory demyelination. Acta Neuropathol 72, 69–73 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00687949

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00687949

Key words

Navigation