Isolation of Latent Herpes Simplex Virus from the Superior Cervical and Vagus Ganglions of Human Beings

HERPES simplex virus has been found to be present in a latent form in the trigeminal and spinal ganglions of animals1 , 2 and human beings.3 , 4 In our previous study,5 we recovered herpes simplex virus Type I from trigeminal ganglions of 12 out of 20 cadavers, 18 being patients who had died of trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this virus could be isolated from other human ganglions. Since latent herpes simplex virus has been detected in the superior cervical ganglions of mice,6 this ganglion was selected for virus-isolation studies. In addition, the jugular portion of the vagus . . .