Detection of human herpesvirus 6 in plasma of children with primary infection and immunosuppressed patients by polymerase chain reaction.
A sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction method for the detection of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) DNA in serum or plasma has been developed. In total, 157 human serum or plasma samples were studied. HHV-6 DNA was detected in 6 (85.7%) of 7 children with exanthem subitum, 3 (23.1%) of 13 bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients, 4 (22.2%) of 18 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, 1 (2.6%) of 39 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, and none of 37 healthy adults. In the HHV-6-positive BMT recipients, HHV-6 plasma DNA was transiently detected during episodes of fever and respiratory infection. In children with exanthem subitum and in 1 HIV-infected patient, the HHV-6 strains were characterized as variant B, whereas variant A was detected in all other patients. Detection of viral DNA in serum or plasma is a marker of active infection that can be used to investigate the role of HHV-6 in human disease.
Secchiero
P
P
Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Carrigan
D R
DR
Asano
Y
Y
Benedetti
L
L
Crowley
R W
RW
Komaroff
A L
AL
Gallo
R C
RC
Lusso
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005077:Exanthema Subitum / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis
D004279:DNA, Viral