36 Experimental Genital Herpes Simplex infection in the Mouse

Abstract

In view of the important role of maternal genital infection as the source of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in the newborn (J.amer. med. Ass. 199: 1132 [1967]), an experimental model in mice was developed. Female mice could be readily infected by insertion in the vagina of a cotton pellet soaked with HSV. The occurrence of infection was substantiated by the recovery of virus from the vagina for as long as 12 days and by the demonstration of concomittant cytological changes (multinucleated giant cells with intranuclear inclusions). 90 % of the mice died of encephalitis within 20 days after inoculation. Death could be prevented in up to 60 % of infected mice by repeated administration of gamma globulin.

Evidence has been obtained that the newborn mouse becomes infected with herpes simplex virus on passage through the infected birth canal of the mother mouse. Infection in male mice was also induced by direct inoculation of virus in the penis. In addition, sexual transmission of genital infection was demonstrated when uninfected male mice placed in contact with infected females developed herpetic penile lesions.

Using this experimental model, it has also been possible to differentiate herpes strains obtained from human genital lesions from strains recovered from nongenital sites. Such differences between genital and nongenital strains of herpes simplex virus have also been found by immunological methods and by inoculation onto chorioallantoic membranes (genital strains form large pocks, non-genital strains form smaller pocks). (SPR)

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