A SEARCH FOR VIRUSES IN SMEGMA, PREMALIGNANT AND EARLY MALIGNANT CERVICAL TISSUES. THE ISOLATION OF HERPESVIRUSES WITH DISTINCT ANTIGENIC PROPERTIES1

Abstract

Rawls, W. E., D. Laurel, J. L Melnick, J, M. Glicksman and R. H. Kaufman (Baylor Univ. Coll. Med., Houston, Tex. 77025). A search for viruses in smegma, prema-lignant and early malignant cervical tissues. The isolation of herpesviruses with distinct antigenk properties. Amer. J. Epid., 1968, 87: 647–655.—Attempts were made to isolate viruses from 198 smegma samples from young males and from 22 smegma samples from male partners of women with carcinoma of the cervix. In addition 23 biopsy specimens from cervical tissue showing pathologic changes of dysplasia or carcinoma in situ were studied. Evidence of virus activity was sought using observation for cytopathic effect, hemadsorption of guinea pig erythrocytes and interference with enterovirus cytopathic effect in primary African green monkey kidney cells, human embryonic kidney cells and human embryonic lung cells. Four strains of herpesvirus were isolated from the smegma samples and no viruses were isolated from the cervical specimens. The four strains of herpesvirus were compared with two non-genital strains of herpesvirus and were found to differ in their antigenic characteristics.