John C. Parker

A Spontaneous Lower Motor Neuron Disease Apparently Caused by Indigenous Type-C RNA Virus in Wild Mice

Abstract A high incidence of spontaneous lower-limb paralysis occurred in a population of wild mice (Mus musculus) which had a high incidence of naturally occurring lymphoma and elevated indigenous type-C virus activity. Experimental transmission evidence indicated that both the neurologic and lymphomatous disorders almost certainly were caused by the indigenous type-C virus. The virus appeared to have a direct neurotropic effect on anterior horn neurons in the lower spinal cord.

ENZOOTIC SENDAI VIRUS INFECTIONS IN MOUSE BREEDER COLONIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

Naturally occurring enzootic infections of Sendai virus have been detected by serologic monitoring and virus isolation in mouse breeder colonies from five states in the United States of America. Six of 21 colonies tested were found to be infected with Sendai virus, and the mean incidence of infection within infected colonies was 76 percent. Forty-one of 120 attempts to isolate the virus were successful.