Transmission of herpes simplex virus infection via lacrimal canaliculi.

We analyzed the differentiation of two strains isolated from the conjunctiva and rhinorrhea of a patient with herpetic keratitis by the restriction endonuclease digestion method of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA. As a result two strains were identified as the same one. This result suggests that HSV contained in tears flows into the nasal cavity via the lacrimal canaliculi.