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Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis: Isolation of Measles Virus from a Brain Biopsy

Nature volume 221, page 974 (1969)Cite this article

Abstract

INDIRECT, evidence has suggested that subacute scleros-ing panencephalitis (SSPE, Dawson's encephalitis, van Bogaert's leukoencephalitis)—hardened inflammation of the brain—is associated with measles virus. This association is supported by: (1) the presence of type A inclusion bodies in brain tissue specimens1; (2) specific immuno-fluoresceiice with measles antibody in brain biopsies2; (3) extremely high measles complement fixing (OF) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titres in the sera and spinal fluid2; and (4) electron microscopic evidence of paramyxovirus-like particles and nucleocapsids in brain biopsies3. We describe here the successful isolation of the presumed aetiological agent of SSPE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section on Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014

    LUIZ HORTA-BARBOSA, DAVID A. FUCCILLO & JOHN L. SEVER

  2. Department of Neuropathology, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46207

    WOLFGANG ZEMAN

Authors
  1. LUIZ HORTA-BARBOSA
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  2. DAVID A. FUCCILLO
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  3. JOHN L. SEVER
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  4. WOLFGANG ZEMAN
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HORTA-BARBOSA, L., FUCCILLO, D., SEVER, J. et al. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis: Isolation of Measles Virus from a Brain Biopsy. Nature 221, 974 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/221974a0

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