title: Herpes simplex virus type 1 in saliva of patients with vestibular neuronitis: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vestibular neuronitis (VN) is an inflammatory disease of the vestibular nerve, presumably caused by reactivation of the herpes simplex virus type l (HSV-1). We hypothesized that HSV-1 might be detected in saliva of patients with VN due to migration of the reactivated virus from the vestibular ganglia to the parotid gland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients with VN and 15 healthy controls participated. HSV-1 DNA detection was performed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Sera were collected and stored to be later analyzed for immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibody titers against HSV-1 by immunofluorescence and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay methods, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HSV-1 was detected in saliva of 14% of VN patients and in 6% of controls (P>0.05). Serological testing revealed borderline IgM (optical density±10% average of 2 cut off serums) antibodies to HSV-1 in 75% of patients versus 13% of controls (P=0.01). The IgG antibody test was positive in 17 of 20 patients and borderline (IgG ≤1:16) in 2 of 20 patients tested whereas 13 of 15 controls had positive IgG test results (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this preliminary study we found serological evidence of higher exposure of patients with VN to HSV-1 in the past. We were not able to demonstrate that the virus can be detected in saliva of VN patients as evidence for herpetic infection or reactivation.
authors: Department of Neurology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerfin, Israel. lea.pollak@gmail.com
authors: Lea
authors: L
authors: Pollak
authors: Mazal
authors: M
authors: Book
authors: Zehava
authors: Z
authors: Smetana
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Alkin
authors: Zvia
authors: Z
authors: Soupayev
authors: Ella
authors: E
authors: Mendelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology*; D020338:Vestibular Neuronitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D014775:Virus Activation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral