Experimental double infection of Japanese encephalitis virus and herpes simplex virus in mouse brain.

In our laboratory, 64 autopsy cases of Japanese encephalitis patients were examined by immunofluorescence. Three patients showed some evidences of double infection of Japanese encephalitis virus and herpes simplex virus. Experiments were done to see the mechanisms of double infection. In doubly infected mice, Japanese encephalitis virus antigen was localized in the herpes simplex virus infected areas in the brain. These results suggested that "blood brain barrier" was broken by herpes simplex virus infection and Japanese encephalitis virus gained access to the susceptible cells.