Canine distemper virus and multiple sclerosis.

Serum samples from patients with multiple sclerosis (M.S.), patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (S.S.P.E.), and controls were examined for virus-neutralising antibodies against measles virus (M.V.) and 2 strains of canine distemper virus (C.D.V.). M.S. and S.S.P.E. patients had higher M.V. antibody titres than controls. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in mean C.D.V.-neutralising antibody titres between M.S. patients and controls. The results, though obtained from a small number of patients, fail to implicate C.D.V. in the aetiology of M.S.