title: Association of human herpesvirus 6 subtypes with symptomatic apical periodontitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The occurrence of human herpesvirus (HHV) 6 subtypes A and B in apical periodontitis was determined. The relationship of HHV-6 subtypes to other disease associated herpesviruses, i.e., Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human cytomegalovirus, was also investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty apical periodontitis samples (17 symptomatic and 23 asymptomatic) and 40 healthy pulp control samples were collected. Nested polymerase chain reaction was used to detect HHV-6 DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HHV-6 DNA was observed in significantly higher frequencies in apical periodontitis samples than in control samples (20% vs. 2.5%; P = .03). Further classification of apical lesions revealed that subtype B of HHV-6 was significantly associated with large-sized and symptomatic lesions (P < .01). Thirty-one apical lesions (77%) harbored ≥1 of the tested herpesviruses: EBV was the most frequent herpesvirus (72.5%) in apical periodontitis, followed by HHV-6 (20%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that EBV and HHV-6B infections can be associated with symptomatic apical periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Katinka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hernádi
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Csoma
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adám
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szalmás
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gyöngyösi
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Veress
authors.lastname: Ildikó-Márton
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kónya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000821:virology*; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral