Effects of combined use of acyclovir and antibody in athymic nude mice inoculated intracutaneously with herpes simplex virus.

Antiviral effects of acyclovir (ACV) and antibody were studied in athymic nude mice inoculated intracutaneously in the midflank with herpes simplex virus type 1. Three hours after virus inoculation, treatment was initiated. In ACV-treated mice, the development of skin lesions was inhibited and the mean survival time was prolonged as compared with controls. Treatment with ACV markedly reduced the viral titers both at the inoculation site and in the neural tissues (dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord and brain). Transfer of antibody was also effective in controlling infection as described previously. The use of ACV plus antibody was more effective than the use of ACV alone and in 5 of 17 mice the disease was completely inhibited. Furthermore, in the mice that survived, latent infections in the ganglia were also prevented. These results indicate that treatment with ACV plus antibody is highly effective against herpes simplex virus infection in the immunocompromised host.