PERSISTENCE OF HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1 AND TYPE-2 IN INFECTED INDIVIDUALS

During a 23-mo. period, 18 patients with facial or genital herpetic lesions were examined; culture specimens from each patient were obtained 3 times/wk for virologic studies. The isolated viruses were identified, and the average duration of herpesvirus in lesions was determined. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was isolated from facial lesions for a mean duration of 3 1/2 days. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was isolated from genital lesions for a mean duration of 5 1/2 days. The duration of viral persistence in lesions of patients with mild primary infection did not seem to differ from that in patients with recurrent infection.