An Introduction to General Virology

Abstract

This chapter discusses manifestations of Myxovirus infection. Several of the illnesses because of Myxoviruses have been known as distinct clinical entities from early times. Recognized epidemics of influenza and mumps in man and rinderpest in cattle have occurred for well over a thousand years, while rabies has been recognized as a disease of dogs and of man for just under 2000 years. Although, the greater proportion of the diseases caused by this group are respiratory; exanthematous fevers, encephalitis, and generalized systemic illnesses also occur. Vaccination against influenza, mumps, measles and rabies in man, and rinderpest, Newcastle disease and canine distemper in animals, enjoys varying success. The main problem, which arises with influenza, stems from this antigenic variation of both the A and B strains, and makes production of an effective vaccine against the current virus difficult. There are six important diseases of animals caused by the Myxoviruses. At first sight the most important are rabies and canine distemper, but Newcastle disease, fowl plague, rinderpest and shipping fever can be highly destructive when they reach epidemic form.