Naturally occurring herpes simplex encephalitis in a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
An approximately 1-year-old domestic rabbit showed severe neurologic signs with circling and turning somersaults. Histologically, a nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis with neuronal cell necrosis and numerous intranuclear inclusion bodies in neurons and glial cells was found. Electron microscopic examination revealed herpesvirus particles in affected cells. A human herpes simplex virus was identified by means of immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization as the causal agent and was further classified as herpes simplex virus 1 by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Because encephalitis is easily induced in rabbits by experimental infection with herpes simplex virus, the source of infection is suspected to be a human with herpes labialis who had close contact with the rabbit.
Weissenböck
H
H
Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Hainfellner
J A
JA
Berger
J
J
Kasper
I
I
Budka
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure