Topical zinc in the treatment of mice infected intravaginally with herpes genitalis virus.

Abstract

AbstractThe course of the disease, HSV-2, inoculated intravaginally in immature mice was ascertained by studying the incidence of vaginitis, encephalitis, and mortality rate. The therapeutic efficacy of various zinc containing medications administered topically 4 hr after infection was studied. It was found that intravaginally applied zinc medicated collagen sponge containing 50 μg zinc sulfate (7H2O) in acetate buffer, pH 5.5, significantly improved the course of disease and was significantly more effective than zinc administered intravaginally in a cream base. A solution of zinc sulfate administered as a douche was as effective as the comparable concentration of zinc applied through resilient collagen sponge. We conclude that topical administration of zinc through resilient collagen sponge or as a douche used shortly after the infection significantly inhibits the course of the herpes genitalis infection in the mouse.