Is herpes simplex virus associated with pulp/periapical inflammation?
OBJECTIVE
This study focuses on the detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA in dental pulp and inflamed periapical tissue.


METHODS
Dental pulp tissue (vital and necrotic) and periapical tissue samples were collected under strictly sterile conditions and examined for the presence of HSV DNA. Saliva samples were also examined for the presence of the viral DNA. The polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect viral DNA. Blood samples were collected, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against HSV was carried out.


RESULTS
According to the ELISA test, 19 of the 23 blood samples were IgG-positive and IgM-negative to HSV, whereas 4 were IgG-negative and IgM-negative. HSV DNA was not detected in the tissue and the saliva samples tested.


CONCLUSIONS
HSV is not present and therefore is probably not involved in the pathology of tooth neural tissue.
Department of Endodontics, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. heling@cc.huji.ac.il
I
I
Heling
M
M
Morag-Hezroni
E
E
Marva
N
N
Hochman
Z
Z
Zakay-Rones
A
A
Morag
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000821:virology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000821:virology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral