Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in ocular disease.

In a continuous series of 457 patients with presumed herpetic eye disease, virus isolation and typing revealed 154 patients with herpes simplex virus type 1 and three patients with type 2 infections. In 219 isolates that were examined for neutralization by specific antisera, for growth in human fibroblasts, and, in part, for temperature sensitivity, there were found substantial strain differences in addition to the type-specific characteristics. The clinical features of each of the three type 2 infections are described in detail. A suggestive correlation found between clinical courses and virus growth characteristics of the type 1 strains indicates that further virologic differentiation of these strains would be useful.