Herpes simplex virus infections in guinea pigs deficient in the fourth component of complement.

Separate groups of normal and C4-deficient guinea pigs were inoculated with herpes simplex virus by intradermal (i.d.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes. Virus infection, confirmed by clinical, virological, and serological criteria, did not last longer and was not more severe in C4-deficient guinea pigs than in normal guinea pigs. Serum C component levels were measured before, during, and after herpes simplex virus infection. In normal gruinea pigs there was no evidence for C4 utilization after either i.d. or i.p. inoculation. In both normal and C4-deficient guinea pigs, C1 and C3-9 levels remained unchanged in spite of i.d. or i.p. infection. These data suggested that C4 and the classical C pathway were not important for virus clearance.