Type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex uvietis in immune rabbits: importance of pure virus preparation.

Systemic immunization with type 1 herpes simplex virus (HSV) protected rabbits from developing uveitis when they were challenged intravitreally with either purified type 1 or purufied type 2 HSV. But when an HSV preparation contaminated with a nonviral foreign antigen (fetal calf serum) was used for both systemic immunization and challenge, the immunization against HSV failed to exert a protective effect because the fetal calf serum had produced a nonviral immunologic reaction in the uveal tract. This clearly indicates the importance of preparing virus properly for use in experiments of this nature.