Comparison of canine distemper virus strains in gnotobiotic dogs: effects on lymphoid tissues

The effects of infection on various aspects of lymphoid function in gnotobiotic dogs with 2 virulent strains of canine distemper virus (CDV), Snyder-Hill CDV and R252-CDV, were compared. Both infections resulted in a viremia-related lymphopenia which was nonselective in that the percentages of B and T cells remained unchanged throughout the observation period. Nonfatal Snyder-Hill-CDV infection resulted in a transient depression of in vitro lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin-P, whereas R252-CDV produced prolonged in vitro suppression of phytohemagglutinin-P stimulation. The differences observed are of minor significance and do not explain the differences in central nervous system demyelinating potential between these 1 strains of CVD.