Recovery of herpes simiae (B virus) from both primary and latent infections in rhesus monkeys.

Abstract

The suspected ability of herpes simiae (B virus) to persist in a latent form has been confirmed in rhesus monkeys. The virus was recovered from primary oral lesions of 2 young monkeys and again, 6 months after disappearance of symptoms, from cultures of Gasserian ganglia taken from the same individuals. B virus was identified by its effects in vivo and in vitro and in cross neutralization tests with antisera to reference B virus and herpes simplex virus. Tests showed that the same virus was present in oral lesions and in ganglia. The one-way immunological relationship between herpes simplex virus and B virus was clearly shown in results of cross neutralization tests.