A murine virus (JHM) causing disseminated encephalomyelitis with extensive destruction of myelin.

The isolation of a murine virus causing disseminated encephalomyelitis accompanied by extensive destruction of myelin in the central nervous system, and focal necrosis of the liver has been described. Young mice can be infected by a number of parenteral routes. Both encephalitic and paralytic signs can be observed. After intracerebral inoculation the virus has been isolated from brain, spinal cord, liver, lung, spleen, and kidney, but not from blood or from intestinal walls and contents. Hamsters, cotton rats, and Hisaw rats can be infected by the intracerebral route. Guinea pigs and rabbits appear to be insusceptible. Attempts to infect chick embryos have so far met with failure. Under proper conditions the agent can pass through the usual bacterial filters. No inclusion bodies have been seen. No serological relationship to other neurotropic viruses has been demonstrated as yet.