VIRAL AETIOLOGY OF DISEASES OF OBSCURE ORIGIN

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Abstract
Viruses have often been suggested as factors in the aetiology of diseases of obscure origin. Much of the work however, has been unacceptable or unreproducible, and considerable scepticism is advocated. A short survey is given of the types of evidence for viruses in the aetiology of these diseases. Modern techniques for detecting virus-specific antigens or nucleic acid sequences, and modern ideas about disease processes, make it likely that more definite information will be available before long. Presence of viruses, however, can be causal or merely casual , and the difficult question of proof is discussed, with reference to updated Koch's postulates. Diseases surveyed in greater detail include cancer, neurological disease (multiple sclerosis, Guillain Barre syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease), connective tissue disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, juvenile diabetes, autoimmune thyroiditis, Paget's disease of bone and atherosclerosis. Finally, the possible mechanisms by which viruses cause such diseases are listed, with especial emphasis on the viral triggering of damaging autoimmune responses.

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