Relation of HVH-II to carcinoma of the cervix.

An animal model is described that demonstrates the development of varying degrees of basal cell hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia following cervicovaginal herpesvirus hominis type II (HVH-II) infection. Although the study spanned a period of 30 months, the equivalent of 60 human years, there was no evidence of anaplasia. These results are considered in relation to the role of HVH-II as an initiator in the multistep process leading to cervical carcinoma.