Myxovirus-like structures in the glomerular endothelial cell cytoplasm in canine nephritis

Electron microscopic examinations revealed the presence of myxovirus-like tubular structures, 200A in diameter, in the endothelial cytoplasm of the glomeruli in four dogs with chronic interstitial nephritis and in one healthy control dog. The structures were found inside the endoplasmic reticulum and in some longitudinal sections, the tubuli seemed to have a helical or spiral substructure. The morphology and cellular localization of the structures resembled those seen in systemic lupus erythematosus in man, and in cultures of cells from tissue infected with canine distemper. Precipitating canine distemper virus antibodies were not in evidence in dogs in which such structures were demonstrable by electron microscopy while these antibodies were found in other dogs.