Antibody Response, Recurrence Patterns and Subsequent Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) Re-infection Following Initial HSV-2 Infection of Guinea-pigs: Effects of Acyclovir

Abstract

SUMMARYThe production of antibody to specific herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) polypeptides, the recurrence patterns and the susceptibility to re-infection were studied in the guinea-pig model of genital HSV-2 infection. Further, we defined the effects of acyclovir (ACV) therapy on these parameters of infection. Treatment with ACV reduced the clinical severity of the initial disease but did not affect vaginal viral shedding. Production of neutralizing antibody as well as antibody to the nucleocapsid protein, and glycoproteins B, D and G were all delayed in ACV recipients. ACV treatment of initial infection did not significantly alter the pattern of subsequent recurrence although by several criteria treated animals tended towards decreased recurrences. Re-inoculation with a second strain of HSV-2 resulted in a local cervicovaginal infection but, except for one ACV-treated animal, neural tissue was protected from re-infection.

Clinical and Serological Outcome of Genital Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type 2 Inoculation following Oral HSV Type 1 Infection in Guinea-pigs

“…Vaginal inoculation of guinea-pigs with HSV-2 produces a disease pathophysiologically similar to human disease including symptomatic recurrences (Stanberry et al, 1982;Bernstein et al, 1986). We were thus able to determine the effects of prior oral HSV-1 infection on the clinical, virological and serological response of animals inoculated intravaginally with HSV-2.…”

“…HSV-2 strain MS (four animals) (ATCC VR-540). Vaginal inoculation with 5 x 105 p.f.u, of HSV-2 strain MS was performed as previously described (Stanberry et aL, 1982;Bernstein et al, 1986). In experiment 1, 12 animals were inoculated with HSV-2 6 months after oral infection (four with prior HSV-1 oral infections, four with prior oral HSV-2 infection and four controls, no prior oral infection).…”

“…Cervicovaginal HSV-2 cultures were obtained daily for the first 10 days after vaginal inoculation by insertion of a moistened calcium alginate swab into the vagina (Stanberry et al, 1982;Bernstein et al, 1986). Samples were frozen at -70 °C until virus was titrated by plaque assay in rabbit kidney cells (Bernstein et al, 1986). To compare the differences in mean viral titres we computed the area under the log10 virus titre-day curve (viral shedding curve) (Kern et al, 1978).…”

“…The acute disease, during the defined period of days 0 to 14 (when all lesions had healed), was quantified on a scale of 0 to 4 as previously described (Stanberry et al, 1982). Recurrent disease was scored from day 15 until day 60 (Bernstein et al, 1986). Cervicovaginal HSV-2 cultures were obtained daily for the first 10 days after vaginal inoculation by insertion of a moistened calcium alginate swab into the vagina (Stanberry et al, 1982;Bernstein et al, 1986).…”

“…Recurrent disease was scored from day 15 until day 60 (Bernstein et al, 1986). Cervicovaginal HSV-2 cultures were obtained daily for the first 10 days after vaginal inoculation by insertion of a moistened calcium alginate swab into the vagina (Stanberry et al, 1982;Bernstein et al, 1986). Samples were frozen at -70 °C until virus was titrated by plaque assay in rabbit kidney cells (Bernstein et al, 1986).…”