NEONATAL HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-INFECTION - PATHOGENESIS AND TREATMENT IN THE GUINEA-PIG

Intranasal inoculation of newborn guinea pigs with herpes simplex viru s (HSV) resulted in local skin-eye-mouth (SEM), central nervous system (CNS), and disseminated infections with high but not universal mortal ity. Cutaneous HSV inoculation produced self-limited SEM infection wit hout evidence of CNS or disseminated disease. HSV infection of the upp er respiratory tract of the newborn guinea pig resulted in early sprea d to the CNS and frequent viral dissemination. The outcome of infectio n was favorably affected by treatment with acyclovir. Spontaneous cuta neous recurrences occurred in most survivors. The newborn guinea pig s hould provide a useful model to explore both the pathophysiology and c ontrol of neonatal HSV infection.