title: Detection and typing of Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) in mucocutaneous samples by TaqMan PCR targeting a gB segment homologous for HSV types 1 and 2.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) are major causes of mucocutaneous lesions and severe infections of the central nervous system. Here a new semiautomated method for detecting and typing of HSV was used to analyze 479 mucocutaneous swab samples. After DNA extraction using a Magnapure LC robot, a 118-bp segment of the gB region was amplified by real-time PCR utilizing type-specific TaqMan probes to identify HSV-1 or HSV-2. HSV detection in a single well using probes labeled with carboxyfluorescein (FAM) for HSV-1 and JOE (6-carboxy-4',5'-dichloro-2',7'-dimethoxyfluorescein) for HSV-2 had a sensitivity similar to that seen in separate reactions. All but one of 217 samples (99.5%) that had been positive by virus culture were positive by TaqMan PCR, with a correct identification of type in all cases. Out of 262 samples negative by virus culture, 48 (18.3%) were positive by TaqMan PCR, with higher Ct values compared with culture positive samples (P < 0.0001). Overall, the Ct values for HSV-1 were lower than for HSV-2 (mean, 25.5 versus 27.9), but to some extent this could be due to weaker fluorescence by JOE. Lower C(t) values for HSV-1 were seen also in the 202 genital samples (79 HSV-1, 122 HSV-2, 1 HSV-1 and HSV-2), indicating that HSV-1 replicates as well as HSV-2 in the genital area. HSV-1 constituted 40% of genital infections and was associated with lower mean age (29.2 versus 36.4 years), probably reflecting the fact that recurrent genital HSV-1 infections are rare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Virology, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10B, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lilly
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Namvar
authors.forename: Sigvard
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019914:Taq Polymerase
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D019914:Taq Polymerase