Experimental parainfluenza type 1 virus-induced encephalomyelopathy in adult mouse: a histopathological study.

The pathogenicity of a strain of parainfluenza type 1 virus, isolated from the cultured brain cells from multiple sclerosis patients and designated as 6/94 virus, was studied in mouse brain. Selective degeneration of cerebral white matter, preceded by mononuclear cell infiltration, and ependymitis were prominent pathological features of the mouse intracerebrally inoculated with 6/94 virus. After inactivation by ultraviolet light the virus was still capable of producing the inflammatory and degenerative white matter lesions, although the severity of ependymitis was substantially reduced.