Immunosuppression in dogs and pigs infected with canine distemper virus

Canine distemper virus CDV invades the nervous system and replicates in neurons and glial cell of the white matter during a period of severe viral induced immunosuppression. Demyelination occurs in infected white matter areas in the absence of inflammation. The mechanism of demyelination is not apparent because there is no ultrastructural evidence of viral replication in the oligodendrocytes, the myelin producing cells. Similarities between canine distemper and rodent models of virus-induced demyelination are discussed.

Abstract Canine distemper virus CDV causes severe immunosuppression and neurological disease in dogs, associated with demyelination, and is a model for multiple sclerosis in man.

Publication types Research Support, Non-U. Thus, epithelial cell infection is necessary for clinical disease and efficient virus shedding but not for immunosuppression. Abstract To characterize the importance of infection of epithelial cells for morbillivirus pathogenesis, we took advantage of the severe disease caused by canine distemper virus CDV in ferrets.

The presence of immunofluorescence IF positive syncytial cells in co-cultures was noted and their numbers were increased in cultures containing pokeweed mitogen.

Lymphocytes from nonviremic dogs also suppressed the phytomitogen responses of responder dogs.