BEHCETS DISEASE-LIKE SYMPTOMS INDUCED BY THE HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS IN ICR MICE

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection has been suggested to be one of t he etiologic or triggering factors in Behcet's disease. To test this h ypothesis, 258 ICR mice were inoculated with HSV type 1 (KOS strain). After the induced infection, 86 mice (33.3%) died, 77 (29.8%) showed B ehcet's disease-like symptoms, and 95 (36.8%) had a healthy, normal ap pearance or just a single symptom. The symptoms included skin ulcers o n the earlobe, neck, abdomen, back or face (57.1%); eye syndromes (39. 0%); partial hair loss (33.8%); genital ulcers (19.5%); bullae (11.7%) ; arthritis (5.2%); gastrointestinal ulcer (5.2%); and tongue ulcers ( 3.9%). The induced Behcet's disease-like symptoms are similar to the c linical manifestations of ulcers, uveitis, and arthritis which have be en significant in diagnosing Behcet's disease in patients.