A preliminary report on investigation of oncogenic potential of herpes simplex virus type 2 in Cebus monkeys.

A total of 301 female and 133 male Cebus monkeys have been placed under study during a 3-year period. Females are inoculated intradermally into the cervix every 6 months; 225 receive virus and 76 receive control material. More than 50% of the animals were infected on primary inoculation, and a similar percentage was foundon the 1st reinoculation. Males are housed with females at 1:1 to 1:3 ratios. Eighteen % of the males exposed to virus-inoculated females have become infected. To date, a total of 55 pregnancies have produced 14 live births and 8 abortions. The remaining 33 animals are still pregnant. No neonatal herpes simplex virus type 2 infections have been identified. Cytological changes of mild (atypia) to moderate (dysplasia) anaplasia have persisted for 12 to 32 months in 13 herpes simplex virus type 2-infected females. These animals received their 1st inoculation 14 to 50 months ago. Persistent anaplasia has not been found in control animals.