Evaluation of lithium as an inhibitory agent of herpes simplex virus in cell cultures and during reactivation of latent infection in rabbits

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Abstract
Lithium carbonate inhibited plaque formation of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in rabbit kidney and Vero cells (50% effective dose, 435.5 to 490 micrograms/ml). Plasma lithium levels of 67 to 134 micrograms/ml were achieved by oral therapy in rabbits. However, neither ocular virus shedding nor virus-positive trigeminal ganglia were reduced after intentional reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus infection.