ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF HERPES SIMPLEX

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Abstract
Electron microscopic studies of the virus of herpes simplex were made in 22 specimens of vesicle fluid from recurrent herpes in various parts of the body and 22 specimens of virus grown in embryonated eggs. The elementary bodies of the virus of herpes simplex have characteristics which distinguish them from those of any other virus so far described. They are rounded bodies with an avg. diam. of 175 m[mu] (133-233 m[mu]). They show a central more opaque area of greater or lesser extent and an irregular edge. The virus particles are often embedded in masses of material largely amorphous or containing angular bodies. In some specimens all gradations were observed from particles with a central opacity through stages of increasingly large central umbilication to crater-like rings. These changes suggest a progressive disintegration of the virus particle. The elementary bodies were most numerous in vesicle fluid collected within 12 hrs. after onset and rare or absent in fluids collected later than 48 hrs. There was close agreement between the number of particles seen under the electron microscope and the titer of virus as measured in vesicle fluid by plaque-counting technique. Such a correlation did not exist when virus infected egg materials were studied. It appears that the virus of herpes simplex disintegrates in egg material more readily than does that of vaccinia, for example. Fixation of the material in osmic acid or formalin before washing helped to conserve the particles. No agglutination of particles with high titer neutralizing sera was observed.
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