Pathogenesis of Zosteriform Spread of Herpes Simplex Virus in the Mouse

Abstract

SUMMARYZosteriform spread of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection occurs after primary inoculation of the skin of both outbred and inbred mice. With HSV type I strain SC 16 few outbred animals died if they were inoculated when 8 weeks old whereas up to 50 of animals died if inoculated when 4 weeks old. However, at either age, zosteriform spread of infection occurred in almost all animals as it did when 4-week-old outbred animals were inoculated with the avirulent strain KOS. Thus, control of zosteriform spread must act by different mechanisms from those controlling the encephalitis which leads to death. During replication in the epidermis virus enters axons and could first be found in sensory ganglia 2 days after inoculation of the skin. Thereafter, it was found in the nerve roots and in skin within the same dermatome but remote from the site of inoculation. When sensory nerves to this latter area were cut during the 4 days after primary inoculation lesions developing as a result of zosteriform spread were either completely inhibited or, with later section, decreased in incidence. Mortality was not affected by such nerve section. Latent infection must be established in neurons serving areas of skin remote from the inoculation site since with HSV-1 strain SC16, recrudescent lesions on the pinna could be induced by stripping the skin of the ear when the original inoculation had been in the skin of the neck. Such recrudescent disease was not demonstrated in animals infected with HSV-1 strain KOS even though this virus efficiently established latent infection in sensory ganglia.

Reactivation of latent infection and induction of recurrent herpetic eye disease in mice

“…During primary infection, when much larger amounts of virus are present in ganglia (Blyth et al, 1984) such antigens are frequently seen in Schwann cells of ocular nerves on days 2 to 6 after corneal inoculation of mice with HSV-1 strain SC16 (Dyson et al, 1987).…”

The Influence of Androgens on Paralysis in Mice Following Intravenous Inoculation of Herpes Simplex Virus

“…Carriage of the worm resulted in a generalized resistance to HSV infection since the incidence of zosteriform spread during primary infection (Blyth et al, 1984) and recrudescent disease after stripping with cellophane tape during latency (Hill et al, 1978) were also much decreased. When the worms were eradicated the susceptibility to HSV by all assays reverted to that originally reported, (These studies will be published in detail elsewhere.…”

Combinations of Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Preparations for the Topical Treatment of Herpes Simplex Virus Assessed using a Murine Zosteriform Infection Model

“…Three days before virus inoculation the 16-18 g mice were anaesthetized using isoflurane inhalation and were shaved on the right side of the neck with an electric trimmer. Inoculation was performed as described by Blyth et al (1984). Briefly, 15~ll of virus suspension 20 containing 2x10 5 p.fu.…”

“…Several animal models have provided valuable information on the pathogenesis of HSV (Hill et al, 1975;Stanberry et al, 1982;Harbour et al, 1983;Blyth et al, 1984). The infections in these models, however, usually reflect primary disease in humans, both in the duration of virus shedding and effects of antiviral drugs.…”