[Alpha-herpesvirus infection in the central nervous system]

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) encephalitis is commonly observed, but HSV1 myelitis is rare. On the other hand, HSV2 is common etiologic agent for ascending necrotizing myelitis associated with diabetes mellitus, malignant tumors, AIDS and immunocompromised hosts. It is suggested that latent infection of the virus of root ganglia or primary infected virus is possibly followed by spread of infection to the central nervous system, particularly in immunocompromised patients. In this report, pathological findings and clinical symptoms of our recent encephalitis and myelitis cases infected with HSV2 and HSV1 are described.