IMMUNOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS OF MEASLES, DISTEMPER, AND RINDERPEST VIRUSES

Abstract

Neutralization tests on sera from measles, distemper, and rinderpest which were analyzed for measles antibody in tissue culture and for distemper antibody in suckling mice present further evidence of an antigenic relationship among these 3 viruses. Rinderpest antisera contained measles and distemper antibodies, whereas normal beef sera failed to neutralize either virus. The comparison of acute and convalescent sera from children with measles showed significant increases in distemper and measles antibodies. Sera from guinea pigs, rabbits, monkeys, and ferrets immunized with measles virus contained distemper antibody in low dilutions. Ferrets immunized with avian or mouse-adapted distemper virus and subsequently challenged with virulent distemper virus demonstrated neutralization of measles virus in low dilution only when the distemper antibody titer was elevated significantly. Measles antibody responses showed a direct relationship to distemper antibody levels but to a far smaller degree and at times were absent. Sera from guinea pigs following inoculation with distemper virus showed a poor response to distemper and none to measles.