DOGS, DISTEMPER AND PAGETS-DISEASE

The cause of Paget's disease is still unknown, despite many years of i ntensive study. During this time, evidence has sporadically emerged to suggest that the disease may result from a slow viral infection by on e or more of the Paramyxoviruses. More recently, epidemiologic and mol ecular studies have suggested that the canine paramyxovirus, canine di stemper virus, is the virus responsible for the disease. If true, then along with rabies, this would be a further example of a canine virus causing human disease. Studies in the natural host have now supported these findings. Further investigations have proposed that the bony abn ormalities seen in Paget's disease are due to the effects of the virus on osteoclastic interleukin-6 and c-FOS production, possibly via the transcription factor NF-kappaB.