Mothers and children in hospital.

Abstract

Herpes Simplex Cervicitis SIR, I was particularly interested in Dr. B. Naylor's comments on herpes simplex cervicitis (18 May, p. 428). It is true that an abundance of literature, mainly from North America, has been published on this subject. Since 1957 there have been eight publications, describing 65 cases, in which the virus has been isolated.'-5 However, it was the French physician Rollet who first recorded acute ulceration of the cervix associated with vaginal discharge, which was thought to be herpetic in origin.' " Dr. Naylor rightly draws attention to the presence of multinucleate giant cells (Tzank cells or virocytes) which may be found in cytological smears taken from cases of herpes simplex cervicitis.' Unless one is aware of their identity these cells may easily be confused with abnormal cells found in cancerous and precancerous conditions of the cervix, and their presence may lead to an erroneous diagnosis of malignant change." Recently in Manchester, with the collaboration of my colleague Dr. M. Longson, of the virology department, we have isolated a large pockforming genital strain of Herpesvirus horninis from a cervix, which has also produced large numbers of syncytia and multinucleate giant cells in tissue culture. It would seem to be the strain of virus which mimics carcinoma cell changes and for which cytologists and gynaecologists alike must remain vigilant. This is the first occasion on which an atypical strain of Herpesvirus hominis with such unusual characteristics has been isolated from a cervix, and a full report of the case will shortly be appearing."-I am, etc.