Preventive and curative effects of acyclovir on central nervous system infections in hamsters inoculated with herpes simplex virus.

Hamsters are very susceptible to infections with herpes simplex virus. Inoculation of the skin of the lower back region leads to an ascending involvement of the central nervous system with fatal outcome. This model was used for testing the activity of antiviral substances in herpes infections of the nervous system. Acyclovir given in optimal dosages prevented infection of the central nervous system completely even when therapy was started 48 hours after inoculation. Therapy with acyclovir proved to be successful in animals showing paresis after infection even when the drug was given in lower than optimal dosages.