title: Inactivation of Herpesvirus hominis types 1 and 2 by silver nitrate in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 (two strains each) were inactivated at different rates in vitro by 40 muM AgNO(3). The inactivation of HSV type 1 strains was virtually complete in 10 to 15 min, whereas almost half of the infectivity of HSV type 2 strains survived this exposure. One strain of type 1 inoculated into rabbit eyes was almost completely inactivated by 1% AgNO(3) solution dropped into the eye 20 min later, so that there was markedly reduced viral replication and less corneal herpetic disease. One strain of HSV type 2 in the rabbit eye was not effectively inactivated by 1% AgNO(3). From these results, it seems likely that AgNO(3) instillation into the eyes of a newborn who has passed through a birth canal infected with HSV might prevent eye infection with HSV type 1 but not with type 2. The greater resistance of HSV type 2 strains to chemical inactivation in vitro and in vivo may be of medical concern.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003315:Cornea; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000517:prevention & control; D000882:Haplorhini; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000517:prevention & control; D007668:Kidney; D011817:Rabbits; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D012835:Silver Nitrate