Resistance of female mice to vaginal infection induced by Herpesvirus hominis type 2: effects of immunization with Mycobacterium bovis, intravenous injection of specific Herpesvirus hominis type 2 antiserum, and a combination of these procedures.

The susceptibility of 4- to 6-week-old female white Swiss mice to intravaginal inoculation with Herpesvirus hominis type 2 (HVH2) and the effect of prior intravenous immunization with Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) and/or treatment with specific HVH2 antiserum (SAS) were investigated. Mice inoculated intravaginally developed vaginitis, posterior paralysis, encephalitis, and death. Prior immunization with BCG either had no effect or appeared in some cases to enhance the course of the disease, whereas a single 0.5-ml intravenous injection of SAS provided significant protection. However, synergistic interaction of BCG immunization and treatment with SAS produced the greatest degree of protection in mice challenged intravaginally with HVH2.