title: [Detection of herpes simplex viral genome in normal cornea].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether herpes simplex virus (HSV) is present in normal cornea.
  
  
  METHODS
  HSV genome in 22 corneas from donors without the history of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK), 6 positive control corneas from patients with active herpetic keratitis and 6 negative control corneas from embryos was detected by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  HSV DNA was present in 20 of 22 normal corneas, and no viral genome was detected in any of the embryonic corneas. All the corneas from patients with active herpetic keratitis showed positive PCR results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the HSV genome is present in some normal corneas, that is concordant with the seropositive rate of HSV in people.
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral