The role of 'slow virus' infections in neurological disease.

The conventional concept of an acute virus infection is contrasted with the newer concept of a "slow virus infection". The author describes several neurological diseases of animals and man with a "proven" slow viral etiology. The epidemiological, clinical laboratory and pathological features of these diseases are placed parallel to several idiopathic degenerative and demyelinating diseases of man and remarkable similarities are noted. Dr. Weber suggests that diseases such as Parkinsonism, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis may result from slow viral infections.