Ocular histopathologic findings in a case of human herpes B virus infection.
A 37-year-old male laboratory technician who sustained a cutaneous penetrating wound from a rhesus monkey developed a progressive ascending encephalomyelitis due to culture-proven herpes B virus (Herpesvirus simiae) infection. He died 6 weeks after his injury despite acyclovir and ganciclovir treatment that was initiated after central nervous system symptoms developed. Histopathological examination of the patient's left eye revealed a multifocal necrotizing retinitis associated with a vitritis, optic neuritis, and prominent panuveitis. Herpes-type virus was identified in the involved retina by electron microscopy. Postmortem vitreous cultures taken from both eyes and retinal cultures taken from the right eye were positive for herpes B virus. Herpes B virus produces infection and destruction of retinal tissues similar to other herpesviruses. To our knowledge, this case represents the first histopathologic demonstration of herpes B virus infection in a human eye.
Nanda
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL 33101.
Curtin
V T
VT
Hilliard
J K
JK
Bernstein
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ND
Dix
R D
RD
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000382:microbiology; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000473:pathology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D006568:Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000473:pathology; D015864:Panuveitis / Q000473:pathology; D012173:Retinitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications