Highly virulent strains of herpes simplex virus fail to kill mice following infection via gingival route
This study demonstrates that the virulence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in mice is dependent on site of infection. The pathogenesis of HSV was studied in two different routes of infection in a mouse model. When BALB/c mice were infected with virulent HSV type 1 Miyama GC + strain intraperitonially, all mice were dead in nine days. The virus was recovered from the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, and spleen. Nevertheless, when the mice were infected in the maxillary gingiva, all mice survived. When infected with HSV via gingiva, followed by intraperitoneal injection of 6 mg of cyclophosphamide 72 hours after virus infection, all mice were dead within days. Does this phenomenon suggest a possible presence of oraldefense mechanism in the mouse model? This question remains unanswered. [J.Y.K.]
Monma,Y., Z.J. Chen, H. Mayama, K. Kamiyama, and F. Schimizu, J Dent Res, 75:974,1996