LATENCY OF HERPES SIMIAE (B-VIRUS) IN RABBITS

  • 1 January 1975
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 56  (6) , 489-494
Abstract
When small doses of herpes simplex virus (HSV) were given to rabbits, a significant degree of protection was afforded against later infection with herpes simiae (B virus). Only 12/47 rabbits died within 3 wk of receiving B virus doses that would normally have proved lethal. B virus became latent in survivors and was recovered from brain and spinal cord suspensions from rabbits that died within 6 mo. and from dorsal root ganglia of rabbits that survived > 2 yr without overt signs of infection. A minority for the survivors tested also yielded HSV. Rabbits with latent B virus in the ganglia showed little or not detectable neutralizing antibody to B virus. The possibility is discussed that human population having a high frequency occurrence of HSV antibody may include carriers of latent B virus.