Sequential analysis of antibody responses in serum, aqueous humor and tear film during latent and induced recurrent HSV infections.

To study HSV specific antibody responses during latent HSV infection and induced HSV ocular shedding, rabbits were infected binocularly with McKrae strain HSV-1. The titer and class of anti-HSV antibody response in serum, aqueous humor and eye washes were determined sequentially during latent HSV infection and following intentional reactivation. In all instances the only antibody class detected was IgG. The highest anti-HSV titers were in the serum and aqueous humor, whereas a significantly lower level of anti-HSV IgG was found in eye washes. Anti-HSV IgG antibody titers were consistently 100-fold higher in serum than in the aqueous humor, which suggests an absence of local ocular antibody synthesis. Neither anti-HSV IgM nor secretory IgA antibodies were detected in any samples.