Acute and Recurrent Infection with Herpes Simplex Virus in the Mouse: a Model for Studying Latency and Recurrent Disease

Abstract

SUMMARYNineteen recent isolates and three laboratory strains of herpes simplex virus types I and 2 were tested for their ability to produce clinical signs in mice following intradermal inoculation in the ear. All viruses produced erythema at the inoculation site; this was the most sensitive clinical sign of infection. Virus multiplication in the ear tissue was similar for both types I and 2 up to the fifth day after inoculation but type 2 viruses persisted for longer. Latent infection was demonstrated in cervical dorsal root ganglia. Type I viruses required a much higher dose than type 2 to produce neurological signs and death after intradermal inoculation but the difference was less after intracerebral inoculation.Erythema of the inoculated ear recurred sporadically during several months observation in about half the mice that survived intradermal infection with a selected type I isolate. The presence of virus in the ear tissue during such recurrences was confirmed by electron microscopy and isolation of infectious virus. The system of ear infection in the mouse is presented as a new model for studying neurovirulence, and latent and recurrent infection with herpes simplex virus.

Pathogenesis of Zosteriform Spread of Herpes Simplex Virus in the Mouse

“…HSV-1 strain SC16, HSV-2 strain AR11 (Hill et al, 1975) and HSV-1 strain KOS (kindly supplied by Dr B. Roizman, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.) were used.…”

“…However, there have been few detailed virological and pathological studies of the phenomenon (Constantine et al, 1971 ;Dillard et al, 1972) and Teague and Goodpasture's hypothesis has never been fully tested. We now describe observations on the pathogenesis of zosteriform spread of HSV in the mouse using a development of the mouse ear model (Hill et al, 1975).…”

Cutting Edge: A NK Complex-Linked Locus Governs Acute Versus Latent Herpes Simplex Virus Infection of Neurons

“…P rimary HSV infection involves transport of virus to the peripheral nervous system (PNS), 3 causing productive or latent infection of sensory neurons. Experimental infections in mice have suggested that innate immunity may be preeminent in limiting lethal interneuronal spread of productive infection (1), but adaptive immunity has received greater attention owing to the rapidly advancing understanding of mechanisms involved in specific Ag recognition.…”

Possible latent infection with herpes simplex virus in the mouse eye

“…All were examined using the slit lamp before inoculation; any mouse with an ocular abnormality was excluded from experiments. All experiments were performed with HSV/SC 16 (type 1) (Hill et al, 1975) which was assayed in Vero cells and stored at -70 °C. For zosteriform spread, the left-hand side of the tip of the snout was 0000-9462 © 1990 SGM shaved and inoculated with 105 p.f.u, of virus by scarification (Claou6 et al, 1987a).…”