Ocular lesions in mice following intracerebral injection of herpes simplex virus type I

A clinical isolate of type I Herpes virus was injected intracerebrally in 4-week-old Balb/C mice. Bilateral ocular disease was observed initially clinically as a leukocoria and an anterior uveitis on the 7th to 11th postinjection days. By day 21 an organized vascularized retrolental membrane had formed with resolution of active inflammation and secondary cataract formation. Light microscopy revealed the process to involve a necrotizing retinitis with associated optic nerve demyelination. Electron microscopy and tissue culture demonstrated the virus in involved tissues.