[Detection of herpesvirus genome by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR in ocular fluids of patients with acute retinal necrosis].
OBJECTIVE
The human herpesvirus (HHV) family consists of types 1 to 8 (HHV1-8). The purpose of this study was to investigate the detection of HHV DNA, especially HSV1 (herpes simplex virus 1, HHV1), HSV2 (herpes simplex virus 2, HHV2), and VZV (varicella-zoster virus, HHV3) in ocular fluids of patients with acute retinal necrosis(ARN).


METHODS
The intraocular genome for HHV1-8 was determined in 19 ocular fluid samples (12 vitreous fluid and 7 aqueous humor samples) taken from ARN patients (n=14). The samples were tested for the presence of virus DNA by two systems of polymerase chain reaction (PCR): the multiplex PCR screening test and real-time quantitative PCR.


RESULTS
Multiplex PCR demonstrated VZV (n=16, 84%), HSV1 (n = 1.5%) or HSV2 (n = 2.11%)genomic DNA in all the samples. In real-time PCR, a high copy number of virus DNA was detected. The virus DNA-positive samples contained Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, HHV4) DNA in 9 of 19 samples (47%). No HHV6-8 DNA was detected in the ocular samples, and no virus DNA was detected in the serum samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The genome for HHV1-3 was detected in the patients with ARN. All cases contained a high copy number for the virus DNA that indicates viral replication. PCR systems are useful for determing whether virus infections are associated with uveitis.
Sugita
Sunao
S
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
Iwanaga
Youichi
Y
Kawaguchi
Tatsushi
T
Futagami
Yuri
Y
Horie
Shintaro
S
Usui
Tomoka
T
Yamamoto
Sayaka
S
Sugamoto
Yoshiharu
Y
Mochizuki
Manabu
M
Shimizu
Norio
N
Watanabe
Ken
K
Mizukami
Miki
M
Morio
Tomohiro
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015882:Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral