Immunological Studies of HSV-Infection of Resistant and Susceptible Inbred Strains of Mice

Abstract

DBA/2 mice were found to be quite susceptible to infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) while C57BL/6 mice and F1 hybrids between the 2 strains were relatively resistant. This difference was most marked after ip infection, but could also be demonstrated after intracerebral, intravenous or subcutaneous infection. In both strains the LD₅₀ was considerably higher after ip infection than after iv infection, and a dose of X-irradiation was required to kill the mice by sc infection. A/J and BALB/c mice were equally susceptible after ip infection but differed significantly after iv infection. C57BL/6 were made susceptible to ip infection by immunosuppression with antilymphocyte serum or cyclophosphamide. LPS, when given simultaneously with HSV also markedly increased the susceptibility of C57BL/6 mice. Susceptible DBA/2 mice which survived a low dose of HSV ip were not immune but C57BL/6 mice surviving a high dose were immune against rechallenge. Both strains of mice could be protected by an apathogenic, tissue-culture-attenuated strain of HSV against infection with the virulent strain. They could also be protected by iv injection of a sublethal dose against a lethal ip infection.