Attempts to isolate virus from human trigeminal and facial ganglions

Herpes virus hominis type 1 was isolated from the trigeminal ganglion (ganglion semilunare, gasservian) in three out of 20 randomly selected autopsies. Two of the three patients had been treated with immunosuppressive or cytostatic agents. Clinical signs of herpes infection were not observed during the previous 6 months. No virus was isolated from the facial ganglion (geniculate ganglion) in the same 20 cases. The findings are discussed in relation to the viral etiology of acute peripheral facial palsy.