No measles virus genetic information detected in multiple sclerosis--derived brains

Measles virus nucleotide sequences were searched for in diseased and normal-appearing white matter from brains of four multiple sclerosis victims. At the level of sensitivity established, 2.5 to 7.8 measles virus genome-equivalents of RNA, or 4.9 genome-equivalents of putative DNA per diploid cell quantity of DNA, could have been detected. At these levels, no measles virus genetic information was found in any of the four brains.