title: Rapid Identification and Differentiation of Baboon Alphaherpesvirus SA8 From Closely Related HSV-1 and HSV-2 in Xenograft Transplant Recipients.
abstract: Background: Rapid differential diagnosis of SA8 infection in humans following xenograft transplantation is an essential part of organ cell donor recipients. Methods and Results: We have developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test using synthetic oligonucleotide primers and probe to detect SA8 DNA in clinical samples. After assessing the specificity of the PCR for detection of laboratory SA8 isolates, the method was used in the investigation of human and baboon specimens and compared to virus culture techniques. Conclusions: The PCR appears to be more sensitive than conventional viral isolation and thus can be used for rapid identification of SA8 virus in cases when conventional virus cultures may not be useful. Further, the PCR can be used to unequivocally distinguish closely related human viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2 from SA8.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Immunology, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas, USA
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hilliard
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soza