Summary
The early neuropathological development of demyelinating Canine Distemper Encephalomyelitis (CDE) was studied in SPF dogs. Neural tissues were examined up to 30 days post infection (PI). Three phases of activity were observed. The primary event (first observed 8 days PI) was a nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis associated with the initiation of central nervous system (CNS) infection by virus-laden lymphocytes. At 24 days PI noninflammatory demyelination occurred in well defined, subependymal foci. Cell fusion and syncytia formation accompanied this early demyelination. The third phase, found at day 30 PI in one dog showing signs of recovery, was a second wave of nonsuppurative inflammation. The initial encephalomyelitis was widely disseminated throughout the CNS but subsequent demyelination appeared to be initiated from within the ventricular system. Myelin was phagocytosed by endogeneous CNS macrophages often infected with Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). The possible importance of viral induced cell fusion as well as immune factors in the mechanism of demyelination are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Appel, M. J. G.: Pathogenesis of canine distemper. Am. J. Vet. Res.30, 1167–1182 (1969)
Appel, M. J. G., Gillespie, J. H.: Canine distemper virus. Virology monographs. Vol. 11. Wien, New York: Springer 1972
Baringer, J. R.: Tubular aggregates in endoplasmic reticulum in herpes-simplex encephalitis. N. Engl. J. Med.285, 943–945 (1971)
Baron, M., Gallego, A.: The relation of the microglia with the pericytes in the cat cerbral cortex. Z. Zellforsch.128, 42–57 (1972)
Blinzinger, K., Anzil, A. P., Deutschländer, N.: Nature of tubular aggregates. N. Engl. J. Med.286, 157–158 (1972)
Camer, W., Bloom, B. R., Norton, W. T., Gordon, S.: Degradation of basic protein in myelin by neutral proteases secreted by stimulated macrophages. A possible mechanism of inflammatory demyelination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA75, 1554–1558 (1978)
Campbell, R. S. F.: Encephalitis in canine distemper. Br. Vet. J.113, 143–161 (1957)
Choppin, P. W.: Pathogenic immune reactions in virus infection. In: Textbook of immunopathology, (eds. P. A. Miescher, A. J. Müller-Eberhard). Vol. 1. New York: Grune and Stratton 1968
Fisher, L. A., Bussell, R. H.: Cell fusion by canine destemper virus-infected cells and their plasma membranes. Intervirology8, 218–225 (1977)
Grimley, P. M., Schaff, Z.: Significance of tubuloreticular inclusions in the pathobiology of human diseases. In: Pathobiology annual, (ed. H. L. Joachim). Vol. 6. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts 1976
Imagawa, D. T.: Relationships among measles, canine distemper and rinderpest viruses. Prog. Med. Virol.10, 160–193 (1968)
Koestner, A.: Animal model—distemper-associated demyelinating encephalomyelitis. Am. J. Pathol.78, 361–364 (1975)
Koestner, A., McCullough, B., Krakowka, G. S., Long, J. F., Olsen, R. G.: Canine distemper: a virus-induced demyelinating encephalomyelitis. In: Slow virus diseases (eds. W. Zeman, E. H. Lennette). pp. 86–101. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins 1974
Krakowka, S., McCullough, B., Koestner, A., Olsen, R.: Myelin-specific autoantibodies associated with central nervous system demyelination in canine distemper virus infection. Infect. Immun.8, 819–829 (1973)
Krakowka, S., Olsen, R., Confer, A., Koestner, A., McCullough, B.: Serologic response to canine destemper viral antigens in gnotobiotic dogs infected with canine distemper virus. J. Infect. Dis.132, 384–392 (1975)
McCullough, B., Krakowka, S., Koestner, A.: Experimental canine distemper virus-induced demyelination. Lab. Invest.31, 216–222 (1974)
ter Meulen, V., Katz, M., Müller, D.: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: A review. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol.57, 1–38 (1972)
Prineas, J. W., Raine, C. S.: Electron microscopy and immunoperoxidase studies of early multiple sclerosis lesions. Neurology (Minneap.)26, 29–32 (1976)
Prineas, J. W., Wright, R. G.: Macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells in the perivascular compartment in chronic multiple sclerosis. Lab. Invest.38, 409–421 (1978)
Raine, C. S.: On the development of CNS lesions in natural canine distemper encephalomyelitis. J. Neurol. Sci.30, 13–28 (1976)
Raine, C. S., Byington, D. P., Johnson, K. P.: Experimental subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in the hamster. Ultrastructure of the chronic disease. Lab. Invest.31, 355–368 (1974)
Reynolds, E. S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electronopaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell. Biol.17, 208–212 (1963)
Summers, B. A., Greisen, H. A., Appel, M. J. G.: Possible initiation of viral encephalomyelitis in dogs by migrating lymphocytes infected with distemper virus. LancetII, 187–190 (1978)
Vandevelde, M., Kristensen, B.: Observations on the distribution of canine distemper virus in the central nervous system of dogs with demyelinating encephalitis. Acta Neuropathol. (Berl.)40, 233–236 (1977)
Wisniewski, H., Raine, C. S., Kay, W. J.: Observations on viral demyelinating encephalomyelitis. Canine distemper. Lab. Invest.26, 589–599 (1972)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Summers, B.A., Greisen, H.A. & Appel, M.J.G. Early events in canine distemper demyelinating encephalomyelitis. Acta Neuropathol 46, 1–10 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684797
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684797