Newer knowledge in comparative virology--its contribution to human health research
Cabasso, J.J.
Veterinary Record 96(26): 563-566
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 167504 Document Number: 88506
Like other comparative sciences, and despite its recent beginning, comparative virology has already contributed useful applications and observations to human health research. Teachings derived from the study of Marek's disease found application in that of Burkitt's lymphoma, and may lead to a possible vaccine against the human disease. Equally useful information came from the study of canine distemper in the development of a chorio-allantoic membrane attenuated measles vaccine, and in the knowledge of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) of man; from the study of reovirus-like agents of baby mice and newborn calves in that of an acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis of infants and young children; and from that of the cancer-producing viruses of fowls, cats, and dogs to a better understanding of some human neoplasias. Finally, Aleutian mink disease may be an excellent natural model for the study of the collagen diseases of man, and scrapie of sheep one for that of a human chronic degenerative diseases of the central nervous system.