Immunological Relationship Between Measles and Distemper Viruses.

In tissue culture studies, the Edmonston strain of measles virus was neutralized by distemper antiserum prepared in ferrets with the egg-adapted and mouse-adapted strains of distemper virus. All normal ferret sera failed to show any neutralization of measles virus. In animal studies, ferrets immunized with measles virus and subsequently challenged with virulent distemper virus showed some evidence of protection as revealed by prolonged incubation periods, modified illnesses and survivals. The mouse-adapted distemper virus was completely neutralized by measles antiserum prepared in ferrets, whereas, normal serum failed to show any neutralization. Mouse-adapted distemper virus was also neutralized by human measles convalescent sera. These results suggest that common antigenic components are shared by the viruses of measles and distemper.