Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection of neonatal mice.

We have demonstrated that newborn mice can be infected orally with herpes simplex virus type 2. Transplacental and transvaginal transmission of herpes simplex virus type 2 did not occur in our mice. Failure to produce natural transvaginal infection in mice may be explained by the relatively short period of exposure to the virus during parturition. These experiments demonstrate that high oral doses of herpes simplex virus type 2 can produce disseminate herpes neonatal infection in mice and therefore may be useful in future investigations into the mechanism and the treatment of this disease.