Experimental pathogenesis of non-lethal herpesvirus infection and the establishment of latency

In rabbits inoculated into the right scarified cornea with the Kupka strain of human Herpesvirus type 1 (HHV 1), healing of the keratitis occurred between days 8--12 post infection (p.i.). Viral particles were seen in nuclei and cytoplasm of corneal epithelium cells and in a few fibrocytes of corneal stroma. By immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, the virus was demonstrated in single neurons and satellite cells of the homolateral Gasserian ganglion since 24 hr p.i. From 20 hr to 8 days p.i., HHV 1 was found in ganglia of 7 out of 15 rabbits, while the explantation was positive in 10 out of 12 animals. In the course of latency, single HHV antigen-containing cells were seen in ganglia of 3 out of 7 rabbits and virus isolation attempts before explantation always were negative. Viral antigen was found in single ganglion cells only in 20% of rabbits with healed corneal lesions while the explanation of the ganglion tissue yielded HHV at an unchanged high frequency (92% of animals).