Skip to main content
Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1969 Jan;22(1):51–59. doi: 10.1136/jcp.22.1.51

Electron microscopic observations on the virus particles in Herpes simplex encephalitis

S Roy 1, L Wolman 1
PMCID: PMC474001  PMID: 4306577

Abstract

Cerebral cortex from eight fatal cases of Herpes simplex encephalitis has been studied by electron microscopy. The diagnosis had been based on clinical findings, necropsy evidence of bitemporal necrosis, and histological confirmation of intranuclear inclusions with a lymphocytic inflammatory response, even though virus cultures were unsuccessful. Virus particles were seen predominantly in nuclei in six of these cases, utilizing tissue which had been preserved in formalin for up to four years or had been embedded in paraffin. Although demonstration of these particles is only indicative of the herpes group and not specifically of Herpes simplex, electron microscopy of either biopsy or postmortem material may be a useful adjunct in making the diagnosis and can be accomplished before virological studies have been completed.

Full text

PDF
53

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Adams J. H., Jennett W. B. Acute necrotizing encephalitis: a problem in diagnosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1967 Jun;30(3):248–260. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.30.3.248. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BENNETT D. R., ZuRHEIN G. M., ROBERTS T. S. Acute necrotizing encephalitis. A diagnostic problem in temporal lobe disease: report of three cases. Arch Neurol. 1962 Feb;6:96–113. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1962.00450200010002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Balfour H. H., Jr, Loken M. K., Blaw M. E. Brain scan in a patient with herpes simplex encephalitis. J Pediatr. 1967 Sep;71(3):404–407. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(67)80301-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bellanti J. A., Guin G. H., Grassi R. M., Olson L. C. Herpes simplex encephalitis: brain biopsy and treatment with 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine. J Pediatr. 1968 Feb;72(2):266–275. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(68)80323-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Breeden C. J., Hall T. C., Tyler H. R. Herpes simplex encephalitis treated with systemic 5-iodo-2'deoxyuridine. Ann Intern Med. 1966 Nov;65(5):1050–1056. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-65-5-1050. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Buckley T. F., MacCallum F. O. Herpes simplex virus encephalitis treated with idoxuridine. Br Med J. 1967 May 13;2(5549):419–420. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5549.419. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. CURE C. W., DODGE P. R. Acute encephalitis with intranuclear cellular inclusions; a nonfatal case of probable herpetic etiology diagnosed by biopsy. N Engl J Med. 1956 Nov 1;255(18):849–853. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195611012551804. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Carmon A., Behar A., Beller A. J. Acute necrotizing haemorrhagic encephalitis presenting clinically as a space-occupying lesion. A clinico-pathological study of six cases. J Neurol Sci. 1965 Jul-Aug;2(4):328–343. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(65)90017-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Chou S. M., Cherry J. D. Ultrastructure of Cowdry type A inclusions. 1. In human herpes simplex encephalitis. Neurology. 1967 Jun;17(6):575–passim. doi: 10.1212/wnl.17.6.575. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. DRACHMAN D. A., ADAMS R. D. Herpes simplex and acute inclusion-body encephalitis. Arch Neurol. 1962 Jul;7:45–63. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1962.04210010051005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. EPSTEIN M. A. Observations on the fine structure of mature herpes simplex virus and on the composition of its nucleoid. J Exp Med. 1962 Jan 1;115:1–12. doi: 10.1084/jem.115.1.1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Evans A. D., Gray O. P., Miller M. H., Jones E. R., Weeks R. D., Wells C. E. Herpes simplex encephalitis treated with intravenous idoxuridine. Br Med J. 1967 May 13;2(5549):407–410. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5549.407. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Gostling J. V. Herpetic encephalitis. Proc R Soc Med. 1967 Jul 7;60(7):693–696. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Grist N. R. Acute viral infections of the nervous system. Proc R Soc Med. 1967 Jul 7;60(7):696–698. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Harland W. A., Adams J. H., McSeveney D. Herpes-simplex particles in acute necrotising encephalitis. Lancet. 1967 Sep 16;2(7516):581–582. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(67)90737-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Herrmann E. C., Jr Experiences in laboratory diagnosis of herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, and vaccinia virus infections in routine medical practice. Mayo Clin Proc. 1967 Nov;42(11):744–753. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hochberg E., Becker Y. Adsorption, penetration and uncoating of herpes simplex virus. J Gen Virol. 1968 Mar;2(2):231–241. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-2-2-231. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Itabashi H. H., Bass D. M., McCulloch J. R. Inclusion body of acute inclusion encephalitis. An electron-microscopic study in a case of suspected herpes simplex encephalitis. Arch Neurol. 1966 May;14(5):493–505. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1966.00470110037005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Johnson R. T., Olson L. C., Buescher E. L. Herpes simplex virus infections of the nervous system. Problems in laboratory diagnosis. Arch Neurol. 1968 Mar;18(3):260–264. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1968.00470330050004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lynn J. A., Martin J. H., Race G. J. Recent improvements of histologic technics for the combined light and electron microscopic examination of surgical specimens. Am J Clin Pathol. 1966 Jun;45(6):704–713. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/45.6.704. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. MACCALLUM F. O., POTTER J. M., EDWARDS D. H. EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF HERPES-SIMPLEX ENCEPHALITIS BY BRAIN BIOPSY. Lancet. 1964 Aug 15;2(7355):332–334. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)90276-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. MORGAN C., ELLISON S. A., ROSE H. M., MOORE D. H. Structure and development of viruses as observed in the electron microscope. I. Herpes simplex virus. J Exp Med. 1954 Aug 1;100(2):195–202. doi: 10.1084/jem.100.2.195. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. MORGAN C., ROSE H. M., HOLDEN M., JONES E. P. Electron microscopic observations on the development of herpes simplex virus. J Exp Med. 1959 Oct 1;110:643–656. doi: 10.1084/jem.110.4.643. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. MacCallum F. O., Juel-Jensen B. E. Herpes simplex virus skin infection in man treated with idoxuridine in dimethyl sulphoxide. Results of double-blind controlled trial. Br Med J. 1966 Oct 1;2(5517):805–807. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5517.805. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Miller J. K., Hesser F., Tompkins V. N. Herpes simplex encephalitis. Report of 20 cases. Ann Intern Med. 1966 Jan;64(1):92–103. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-64-1-92. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Monroe J. H., Schidlovsky G., Chandra S. Membrane pores and herpesvirus-type particles in negatively stained whole cells. J Ultrastruct Res. 1967 Nov;21(1):134–144. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(67)80010-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. PALADE G. E. A study of fixation for electron microscopy. J Exp Med. 1952 Mar;95(3):285–298. doi: 10.1084/jem.95.3.285. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. PIERCE N. F., LEEDS N. R., PORTNOY B., MORRISON R. L., WEHRLE P. F. ENCEPHALITIS ASSOCIATED WITH HERPES SIMPLEX INFECTION PRESENTING AS A TEMPORAL-LOBE MASS: REPORT OF 2 CASES WITH SURVIVAL. Neurology. 1964 Aug;14:708–713. doi: 10.1212/wnl.14.8_part_1.708. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. REYNOLDS E. S. The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol. 1963 Apr;17:208–212. doi: 10.1083/jcb.17.1.208. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Rawls W. E., Dyck P. J., Klass D. W., Greer H. D., 3rd, Herrmann E. C., Jr Encephalitis associated with herpes simplex virus. Ann Intern Med. 1966 Jan;64(1):104–115. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-64-1-104. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Ross C. A., Subak Sharpe J. H., Ferry P. Antigenic relationship of varicella-zoster and herpes simplex. Lancet. 1965 Oct 9;2(7415):708–711. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(65)90452-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. STOKER M. G., SMITH K. M., ROSS R. W. Electron microscope studies of HeLa cells infected with herpes virus. J Gen Microbiol. 1958 Oct;19(2):244–249. doi: 10.1099/00221287-19-2-244. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Smith M. G., Lennette E. H., Reames H. R. Isolation of the virus of herpes simplex and the demonstration of intranuclear inclusions in a case of acute encephalitis. Am J Pathol. 1941 Jan;17(1):55–68.1. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Swanson J. L., Craighead J. E., Reynolds E. S. Electron microscopic observations on Herpesvirus hominis (herpes simplex virus) encephalitis in man. Lab Invest. 1966 Dec;15(12):1966–1981. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. VAN BOGAERT L., RADERMECKER J., DEVOS J. Sur une observation mortelle d'encéphalite aiguë nécrosante; sa situation vis-à-vis du groupe des encéphalites transmises par arthropodes et de l'encéphalite herpétique. Rev Neurol (Paris) 1955;92(5):329–356. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Wolman L. The neuropathological aspects of acute encephalomyelitis. Public Health. 1967 Jan;81(2):58–66. doi: 10.1016/s0033-3506(67)80037-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Pathology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES