Oral chemotherapy of fatal B virus (herpesvirus simiae) infection.

Acyclovir and ganciclovir, which were only about 10-fold less effective against B virus than herpes simplex virus type 1 in VERO cells, were tested in vivo in B virus-infected rabbits. Untreated control rabbits became paralysed from 8 days and died from 10 days. Oral acyclovir at a dose rate of 500 mg/kg/day for 21 days prevented death; acyclovir prevented disease at 700 mg/kg/day.

Discrimination between twenty isolates of herpesvirus simiae (B virus) by restriction enzyme analysis of the viral genome.

Twenty isolates, obtained from adult breeding monkeys, were all identified as herpesvirus simiae (B virus) by neutralisation with polyclonal B virus antiserum. Subsequent analysis of restriction enzyme profiles produced by digestion of DNA from the isolates enabled discrimination to be made between them. In particular Cynomolgus monkey isolates could be distinguished from those of Rhesus animals.

Transmission of B virus infection between monkeys especially in relation to breeding colonies.

Studies of B virus (Herpesvirus simiae) antibody in several species of macaque lead to the following generalizations. Newborn monkeys are not infected with B virus, even when born of seropositive mothers. Young monkeys remain uninfected until they become adults.

Excretion of B virus in monkeys and evidence of genital infection.

3 different types of observation all demonstrated that B virus (Herpesvirus simiae) infection of monkeys was not confined to the mouth but was also a genital infection. (1) Latent B virus was reactivated in a seropositive female monkey, which was immunosuppressed with antilymphocyte globulin, and infectious virus was excreted in the genital tract. (2) During an epizootic in a breeding colony, B virus was isolated from 4 genital and 3 oral sites as well as from a skin lesion.