Human herpesvirus 6 chromosomal integration in immunocompetent patients results in high levels of viral DNA in blood, sera, and hair follicles.
Six immunocompetent patients with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) chromosomal integration had HHV-6 and beta-globin DNA quantified in various samples by PCR. The mean HHV-6 DNA concentration (log(10) copies/milliliter) in blood was 7.0 (>/=1 HHV-6 DNA copies/leukocyte), and in serum it was 5.3 (>/=1 HHV-6 DNA copies/lysed cell). The mean HHV-6 DNA load (log(10) copies)/hair follicle was 4.2 (>/=1 copies/hair follicle cell), demonstrating that viral integration is not confined to blood cells. The characteristically high HHV-6 DNA levels in chromosomal integration may confound laboratory diagnosis of HHV-6 infection and should be given due consideration.
Ward
Katherine N
KN
Centre for Virology, Division of Infection and Immunity, Royal Free and University College Medical School (UCL campus), Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, 46 Cleveland St., London W1T 4JF, United Kingdom. k.n.ward@ucl.ac.uk
Leong
Hoe Nam
HN
Nacheva
Elisabeth P
EP
Howard
Julie
J
Atkinson
Claire E
CE
Davies
Nicholas W S
NW
Griffiths
Paul D
PD
Clark
Duncan A
DA
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000821:virology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load; D016662:Virus Integration
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral