Fine Structure of Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatoadrenal Necrosis in the Newborn

Abstract

An 8-day-old infant died with disseminated herpes simplex infection after an acute illness. Typical intranuclear inclusions in the liver and adrenal gland in conjunction with the isolation and identification of herpes simplex virus (HSV) from the tissues confirmed the diagnosis. Studies of the liver and adrenal gland by electron microscopy demonstrated the development and differentiation of the HSV within the nucleus, cytoplasm, and outside the cell. The reaction and changes of the nucleus, nuclear membranes, and cytoplasmic structures of the liver and adrenal cells to the HSV infection are described. All of these virus particle developments and cellular reactions in vivo are compared with similar events previously described for in vitro systems.