Effect of antibody alone and combined with acyclovir on neonatal herpes simplex virus infection in guinea pigs

Fernando J. Bravo, Nigel Bourne, Christopher J. Harrison, Chitra Mani, Lawrence R. Stanberry, Martin G. Myers, David I. Bernstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection produces severe disease with unacceptable morbidity and mortality with current antiviral therapies. The effect of therapy with passive anti-HSV antibody and acyclovir was evaluated using a guinea pig model of neonatal HSV. Newborn animals were inoculated intranasally and treated with acyclovir (60 mg/kg/day) or antibody (or both), beginning on days 0, 2, or 3 after HSV-2 inoculation. Acyclovir alone was effective only when begun on day 0, and antibody alone was effective when begun on or before day 2. Only combination therapy was effective on day 3, reducing mortality from 82% (14/17) in controls to 44% (7/16; P < .05). Combined therapy also significantly reduced the duration of skin, eye, and mouth disease and respiratory symptoms but not recurrent disease. These data suggest that addition of antibody therapy to acyclovir may improve the outcome of neonatal HSV disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume173
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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