Latent herpesvirus hominis 1 in the central nervous system of psychotic patients.

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) from 35 patients with senile or presenile dementia and from 13 patients with schizophrenia and related syndromes were examined in cell cultures with the aim to isolate Herpesvirus hominis 1 (HVH 1) or other viruses. Serum and CSF antibodies to HVH 1 and/or interferon in the patients indicated a recent HVH 1 antigenic or viral activity. In the CSF of two senile demented patients and of one patient with schizoaffective psychosis, agents of low virulence, causing a cytopathic effect in 3 or 4, but not more, subsequent passages were detected and identified as HVH 1 by immunofluorescence. A focus of cells containing HVH 1 antigen at the cell membrane and in cytoplasm was visualized by immunofluorescence in an explant from nucleus amygdalae from 1 of 6 patients with schizophrenia and related syndromes examined. In the original biopsy materials, various virus-like structures were found in nuclei and cytoplasm of astrocytes and neurocytes and in axons in the neuropil.