Restricted virus protein translation in canine distemper virus inclusion body polioencephalitis

In this study, inclusion body polioencephalitis, an uncommon form of canine distemper virus (CDV)-induced encephalitis, was investigated for viral pro tein and mRNA expression by immunohistochemistry (IH) and in situ hybridiza tion and, in addition, infiltrating cells were characterized by IH. Lesions were predominantly found in the grey matter of the brain stem and the immu ne response, dominated by T cells, was associated with a strong MHC II upre gulation. Abundant expression of all viral protein mRNAs and reduced or lac king protein translation, especially of the matrix protein were the most im portant findings, indicating that restricted virus infection in the grey ma tter might represent a mechanism for viral persistence in distemper polioen cephalitis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.