title: Localization of herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus DNA in human ganglia.
abstract: Human dorsal root ganglia from 14 randomly autopsied adults and 1 infant (all seropositive for both herpes simplex virus [HSV] and varicella zoster virus [VZV]) were examined for latent HSV-1 and VZV DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Thoracic ganglionic DNA from all subjects and trigeminal ganglionic DNA from 11 adults were analyzed. HSV-1 DNA was detected in trigeminal ganglia from 8 of 11 (73%) adults and in thoracic ganglia from 2 of 14 (14%) adults. VZV DNA was detected in trigeminal ganglia from 10 of 11 (91%) adults and in thoracic ganglia from 12 of 14 (86%) adults. None of the DNA samples were positive with primers specific for HSV-2. These findings indicate the presence of latent HSV-1 and VZV DNA in trigeminal ganglia and latent VZV DNA in thoracic ganglia of most seropositive adults. Furthermore, although HSV-1 latency most commonly develops in trigeminal ganglia, we also show for the first time the presence of HSV-1 latency in thoracic ganglia. Finally, both viruses can become latent in the same trigeminal ganglion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wellish
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Dueland
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cohrs
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gilden
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005724:Ganglia / Q000382:microbiology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D013909:Thorax / Q000294:innervation; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes