LATENT HERPESVIRUS HOMINIS-1 IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS-SYSTEM OF PSYCHOTIC-PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (3) , 231-+
Abstract
CSF from 35 patients with senile or presenile dementia and from 13 patients with schizophrenia and related syndromes were examined in [rabbit and human] cell cultures with the aim to isolate Herpesvirus hominis 1 (HVH 1) or other viruses. Serum and CSF antibodies to HVH 1 and/or interferon in the patients indicated recent HVH 1 antigenic or viral activity. In CSF of 2 senile demented patients and of 1 patient with schizoaffective psychosis, agents of low virulence causing a cytopathic effect in 3 or 4 subsequent passages were detected and identified as HVH 1 by immunofluorescence. A focus of cells containing HVH 1 antigen at the cell membrane and in cytoplasm was visualized by immunofluorescence in an explant from nucleus amygdalae from 1 of 6 patients with schizophrenia and related syndromes examined. In the original biopsy materials, various virus-like structures were found in nuclei and cytoplasm of astrocytes and neurocytes and in axons in the neuropil.