Specific neuro-radiological diagnosis of Herpes encephalitis in an animal model

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Abstract
The potential of utilizing a radio-labelled derivative of the antiviral drug (E)-5-(2-iodovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine (IVDU) for the specific, non-invasive, in vivo diagnosis of Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) was investigated in a rat model of the disease. Following pharmacological disruption of the blood brain barrier radiolabelled IVDU was administered by intra-carotid injection. Brain radioactivity was compared between control and infected animals via gamma camera scintigraphy. After clearance of non-metabolized drug, markedly higher levels of activity were found in infected brain. Post-mortem studies of cryostat sections of brain examined by autoradiography and immunochemical staining showed the radioactivity selectively accumulated in areas of virus infection. These results indicate that radio-labelled derivatives of antiviral drugs may allow the specific neuro-radiological diagnosis of HSVE.