Investigation of humoral and cell-mediated immunity aspects in mice with experimental latent herpes infection.

An experimental latent herpes infection was established by intradermal inoculation of the mouse ear or of the footpad with a wild strain and a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of herpes virus type 2. The wild strain was latency-positive irrespective of the inoculation site; the ts mutant induced latent ganglionic infection only when inoculated in the footpad. Neutralizing antibodies could be detected only after inoculation of the wild strain. The establishment of latency was not prevented by the presence of either a humoral or a cell-mediated immune response.