title: Longitudinal evaluation of herpes simplex virus DNA load during episodes of herpes labialis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have performed sequential evaluation of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) load using quantitative PCR during episodes of herpes labialis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine HSV viral load kinetics during recurrences of herpes labialis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two subjects were monitored by daily swabs during recurrences of herpes labialis. A real-time PCR detecting both HSV-1 and HSV-2 was used to quantify the viral load.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median duration of HSV-1 shedding was 60 h and 48 h by PCR and culture, respectively. No HSV-2 DNA was detected in that study. Peak viral DNA load (123.6 copies/cell) occurred at 48 h with no virus detected beyond 96 h of onset of symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These viral load kinetics data could be used as surrogate markers of antiviral activity in future clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Research Center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec and Laval University, Québec City, Quebec, Canada. Guy.Boivin@crchul.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boivin
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goyette
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sergerie
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keays
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Booth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006560:Herpes Labialis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014709:Vero Cells; D019562:Viral Load; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral