Relation of Pock Size on Chorioallantoic Membrane to Antigenic Type of Herpesvirus Hominis ∗

Abstract

Summary

Strains of herpesvirus hominis (HVH) which were recovered primarily from genital sites and which belonged to antigenic type 2 were found to produce large pocks (av diameter > 0.5 mm) on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of embryonated eggs. Type 1 HVH strains isolated primarily from nongenital sites produced small pocks (av diameter < 0.5 mm) on the CAM. Histological examinations of the infected CAM have revealed that type 1 HVH strains produce ectodermal proliferation with little subectodermal involvement. Type 2 HVH strains involve ectodermal, mesodermal and endodermal layers with marked necrosis, hemorrhages and inflammatory cells. Multinucleated giant cells are more readily found in CAM infected with type 2 strains. The conflicting reports of other workers regarding pock size and histological findings after infection with various HVH strains may be explained by their multiple passages in eggs and other selective factors. Also included is a comparison of CAM infection with type 1 and 2 HVH and variola and vaccinia viruses. Evaluation of the pock size of freshly isolated strains of HVH which have had no prior egg passage could serve as a rapid presumptive test for ascertaining the antigenic type of HVH strains.