In vivo reactivation of herpes simplex virus in rabbit trigeminal ganglia: electrode model

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Abstract
The rabbit provides an excellent model for the study of ocular herpes becasue herpetic keratitis in the rabbit eye resembles human disease in its clinical features and in its propensity for spontaneous recurrence. A method is presented for the electrical induction of multiple episodes of in vivo reactivation of latent HSV-1 infection with peripheral shedding of virus. Physiological levels of current delivered via an electrode implanted over the trigeminal ganglion of latently infected animals provided a method to modify and synchronize virus shedding in preocular tear film and to cause multiple episodes of reactivation in a single animal. The model is well suited for antiviral efficacy testing and provides an excellent opportunity for investigation of virus-host cell interactions in latent and recurring herpetic disease.