Effect of B cell suppression on primary infection and reinfection of mice with herpes simplex virus

During primary infection with herpes simplex virus type 1, elimination of the antibody response by B cell suppression did not interfere with clearance of virus from skin. However, spread of virus within the peripheral nervous system was more extensive in B cell-suppressed animals compared with that in fully immunocompetent mice. Mice that had previously recovered from herpes simplex virus infection of the ear pinna, when subsequently reinfected in the flank, showed restricted viral replication in the skin and cleared virus more rapidly than did animals experiencing primary infection. B cell suppression did not compromise the ability of mice to resist reinfection compared with the ability of normal immune animals. The implications of the above findings with regard to future immunoprophylaxis and the interpretation of experiments designed to test for immunity are discussed.