title: Could Epstein-Barr virus or canine distemper virus cause multiple sclerosis?
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be an immune-mediated disease with a possible environmental trigger. Genetic and environmental factors, including infection by pathogens, may act synergistically to trigger the disease. There is growing epidemiologic, serologic, and pathologic evidence that Epstein-Barr virus may cause MS or contribute to its pathogenesis. The evidence that canine distemper virus is involved in MS is less robust. More definitive data are required to prove that Epstein-Barr virus or canine distemper virus causes some or most cases of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Multiple Sclerosis Center at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Doctors Office Center, Suite 8121, 90 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hankiewicz
authors.forename: Stuart D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002980:Climate; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004285:Dogs; D004777:Environment; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology