Herpes simplex virus type 2 induced retinal necrosis in BALB/c mice.
We injected herpes simplex virus type 2 of MS- or G-strain into the anterior chamber of BALB/c mice. In the contralateral eye inflammatory cell infiltration began in the ciliary body; focal retinitis, detected by day 8, led to total destruction of the retina by day 10. Contralateral disease was observed in 75% of mice inoculated with 8 x 10(3) pfu herpes simplex virus type 2, but in only 20% of mice receiving 80 pfu herpes simplex virus type 2. Still this low concentration, however, produced a suppressed delayed-type hypersensitivity response. Anti-herpes simplex virus type 2 antibody, first detected on day 8, reached high titers on day 10; by then, most of the mice had died of encephalitis. The G-strain of herpes simplex virus type 2 was more neurotoxic than the MS-strain, but produced the same incidence of contralateral retinitis. Herpes simplex virus type 2 products contralateral necrotizing retinitis comparable to that produced by herpes simplex virus type 1. These findings, like those of other authors, suggest a role for herpes simplex virus type 2 in some cases of acute retinal necrosis in humans.
Zierhut
M
M
Hilles Immunology Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston.
Hemady
R
R
Zhao
T Z
TZ
Merchant
A
A
Foster
C S
CS
D000818:Animals; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009336:Necrosis; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D012173:Retinitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology