The effect of mouse strain on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection of the central nervous system (CNS)

Herpesviridae

Table 2 The number and size of 'focal' areas of HSV-1 antigen positive cells in the BST-CB of inbred strains of mice

Mouse strain^a	BST^b examined for focal' areas on day (PI)	CB^c examined for 'focal' areas on day (PI)	# of 'focal' areas per section^d		Size of 'focal' area^e (μm)
SJL/J	9	12	0.6 ± 0.7	0.7 ± 0.7	97 ± 8	153 ± 6
A/J	5	9	0.7 ± 0.8	2.6 ± 1.0	156 ± 8	285 ± 9
PL/J	5	6	1.6 ± 1.0	4.6 ± 1.7	207 ± 15	373 ± 21

^aThree 10-12 week ♀ mice of each strain were infected with HSV-1 strain 2 via the oral mucosa. 'Focal' areas of viral antigen positive cells were determined in serial sections of the brainstem-cerebellum (BST-CB) by IHC and CFV counterstain.
^bSections of the BST were examined on the first day that 'focal' areas appear for each mouse strain.
^cSections of the CB were examined on the first day that 'focal' areas appear for each mouse strain.
^dAverage number of 'focal' areas of viral antigen ± SD per section. Differences among mouse strains are all statistically significant at P < 0.001 except for the difference between SJL/J and A/J BST which was NS.
^eAs a single 'focal' area could be represented in several sections, the greatest diameter for each'focal' area was determined. The average diameter ± SD of the 'focal' areas for the three mouse strains was then calculated. Differences between the three mouse strains are all statistically significant at P < 0.001.