The cellular changes in primary and recurrent infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 in an in vitro model

The cellular changes of primary and recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection were investigated in in vitro models. In the primary infection model, nuclear changes were characterized by clumping and margination of the nuclear chromatin, a homogeneous ground-glass nuclear appearance, multinucleation and the appearance of two different types of intranuclear inclusions. One of the two types of inclusions appeared as early as six hours postinfection, reached a maximum at nine hours postinfection and gradually decreased thereafter. This early inclusion, relatively small in size as compared to the other type of inclusion, gave a basophilic staining when the Papanicolaou staining method was used. The other type of inclusion was the typical Cowdry type A inclusion, which appeared as early as 12 hours postinfection. Both types of inclusions contained clear perinuclear halo. In the recurrent infection model, the appearance of all the nuclear changes was delayed, the appearance of early inclusions was infrequent, and the Cowdry type A inclusions were observed more frequently than in the primary infection model. These results may indicate that the early inclusion is a sign of rapid virus replication while the Cowdry type A inclusion is one form of the remains of an HSV infection.