title: Sequential genital infections by herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2: restriction nuclease analyses of viruses from recurrent infections.
abstract: Virus isolated from a woman presenting with the first symptomatic episode of genital herpes was identified as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) by restriction nuclease fingerprinting. Testing for IgM antibody to HSV indicated that the patient had recently contracted a new HSV infection. Virus microneutralization and the micro-solid phase radioimmunometric test for IgG, however, showed that the patient had had prior infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2); thus the HSV-1 infection was acquired despite the presence of antibody to HSV-2. Genital herpes recurred about four, seven, and nine months after the HSV-1 infection. Isolates from the latter three episodes all were of an identical strain of HSV-2 and were not recombinants or a mixture of the viruses. The data show that two distinctly different herpes simplex viruses can initiate genital infections in one individual and suggest that HSV-2 is more likely to recur than HSV-1.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes