Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology

, Volume 59, Issue 3, pp 194–200 | Cite as

Effects of antiviral medications on herpetic epithelial keratitis in mice

  • Shohei Komoto
  • Shiro Higaki
  • Masahiko Fukuda
  • Yoshikazu Shimomura
Laboratory Investigation
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Purpose

Aciclovir (ACV), valaciclovir (VACV) and famciclovir (FCV) are used for systemic infections caused by herpes virus. In Japan, only topical ACV is permitted for use against herpetic keratitis. We investigated the effectiveness of topical ACV, oral VACV and oral FCV on mouse epithelial herpetic keratitis.

Methods

C57/BL76 mice were inoculated with HSV-1 McKrae strain in the cornea. Once infection was confirmed 4 days after inoculation, topical ACV, oral VACV and FCV were started and administered for 5 days. Control groups were given either topical or oral saline. On days 2, 4, 6 and 10 after medication started, tears, eyeballs, and trigeminal ganglia were examined using viral culture and real-time PCR.

Results

Viral culture of tears detected no HSV in the topical ACV group on day 4 after administration start; with similar results for the oral VACV group on day 4; and the oral FCV group on day 6. Real-time PCR of the eyeballs showed significant decrease of HSV DNA copy number in the topical ACV group on days 4 and 6 compared to the topical saline group. Real-time PCR of the trigeminal ganglia showed significant decrease of HSV DNA copy number in the oral VACV group on days 4 and 6, and in the oral FCV group on day 6 compared to the oral saline group.

Conclusion

We suggest that 5-day administration of topical ACV, oral VACV and oral FCV are effective for mouse epithelial herpetic keratitis and sufficiently decrease HSV amounts in the ocular surface and eyeballs.

Keywords

Herpetic keratitis Aciclovir Valaciclovir Famciclovir 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We thank Ms. Yukiko Mimuro for her editing of the manuscript and Ms. Mayumi Mizuno for her technical assistance.

Conflicts of interest

S. Komoto, None; S. Higaki, None; M. Fukuda, None; Y. Shimomura, None.

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Copyright information

© Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Shohei Komoto
    • 1
  • Shiro Higaki
    • 2
  • Masahiko Fukuda
    • 1
  • Yoshikazu Shimomura
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of OphthalmologyKinki University Faculty of MedicineOsaka-SayamaJapan
  2. 2.Department of Ophthalmology, Sakai HospitalKinki University Faculty of MedicineSakaiJapan

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