Antigens of herpes simplex virus in whole corneal epithelial sheets from mice
C. Shimeld, S. J. Lewkowicz-Moss, K. M. Lipworth, T. J. Hill, W. A. Blyth and D. L. Easty
Mice were inoculated with herpes simplex virus in the skin of the snout or
by scarification on the cornea and then examined for eye disease using a
slit lamp. Whole mounts of corneal epithelium were stained for virus
antigens by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, and infectious virus was
isolated from eyewashings. Antigens were present one day after corneal
inoculation, but after inoculation of the snout, there was a delay of three
days before antigens were seen. This delay and the distribution of antigens
were evidence of zosteriform spread from the snout to the eye via the
nervous system. Disease of the cornea varied in severity and timing
depending on the site of inoculation. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase method
was more sensitive than isolation of virus from eyewashings and allowed the
site and distribution of infected cells to be seen.
