title: Detection of human herpesvirus 6 DNAs in samples from several body sites of patients with exanthem subitum and their mothers by polymerase chain reaction assay.
abstract: Polymerase chain reaction amplification was used to detect human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) DNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs), plasma, saliva, stool, and urine from three patients with exanthem subitum and in peripheral blood MNCs, plasma, and saliva from their mothers. HHV-6 DNAs were detected in MNCs during and after the disease and were found in plasma only in the acute phase. The virus DNAs were also detected in saliva after recovery from the illness and were found persistently or intermittently in stool but not in urine samples after the onset of the disease. In contrast, one of the three mothers excreted HHV-6 DNAs persistently in saliva. None of the mothers had the virus DNAs in peripheral blood MNCs and plasma nor a significant increase in antibody titers to HHV-6 after possible exposure from their children. These findings suggest systemic replication of HHV-6 during the acute phase in patients with exanthem subitum and persistent infection of the virus in several organs after recovery from the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yazaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kajita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005077:Exanthema Subitum / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral