herpes
Prevalence of herpes simplex type 2 antibodies and a clinical history of herpes in three different populations in Campinas City, Brazil.

Carvalho M, de Carvalho S, Pannuti CS, Sumita LM, de Souza VA.

Laboratory of Virology (LIM52-HCFMUSP), Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) antibodies and the relation between the history of clinical herpes and the presence of type-specific HSV-2 antibodies in three different populations from the city of Campinas City, Brazil. POPULATION AND METHODS: One hundred and one college students, 96 patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and 102 women at delivery were interviewed and blood samples were collected. Total HSV (HSV-1 and HSV-2) antibodies were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and type-specific HSV-2 antibodies were detected by Western blot assay. RESULTS: Herpes simplex virus antibodies were detected in 66.3% of the students, 97.1% of the women at delivery, and 99.0% of the STD patients. Type-specific HSV-2 antibodies were detected in 6.9% of the students, 22.6% of the women at delivery, and in 53.1% of the STD patients. History of genital herpes was reported by none of the students, by one of the women at delivery, and by 11 of 51 (21.6%) STD patients who were HSV-2 seropositive. Four of the 45 (8.9%) seronegative STD patients reported a history of genital herpes. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HSV-2 infection in Campinas City can be significantly affected by the characteristics of the population studied, as was shown in previous studies. The sensitivity of the history of genital herpes was low in the present series, stressing that prophylactic measures for vertical and horizontal transmission of HSV-2 should not be based only on a positive history of genital ulcers.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10225987&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Quantitation of 8 human herpes viruses in peripheral blood of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients and healthy blood donors by polymerase chain reaction.

Hoang MP, Rogers BB, Dawson DB, Scheuermann RH.

Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9072, USA.

Human herpes viruses are associated with morbidity and mortality in persons with compromised immune systems, including patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To investigate the basis for this association, the levels of all 8 human herpes viruses (herpes simplex virus, types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpes virus 6, human herpes virus 7, and human herpes virus 8) were measured with the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Viral DNA was measured in the whole blood of 20 HIV-infected patients and compared with levels in 20 healthy blood donors. There was no significant difference in the frequency of virus detection of the 8 human herpes viruses between HIV-infected patients and healthy adults. These results indicate that HIV infection is not associated with a general increase in the circulating levels of human herpes viruses, and suggest that quantitative PCR analysis is superior to qualitative PCR analysis for detection of clinically relevant disease in HIV-infected patients.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10230356&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Herpes virus infections occur frequently following treatment with fludarabine: results of a prospective natural history study.

Byrd JC, McGrail LH, Hospenthal DR, Howard RS, Dow NA, Diehl LF.

Hematology-Oncology Service, Divison of Hematologic Malignancies, Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. john_c.byrd wramaa.chcs.amedd.army.mil

We performed a prospective infectious natural history study of 21 patients with low-grade lymphoproliferative disorders receiving fludarabine as initial (n = 5) or salvage (n = 16) therapy. 12 (57%) of these patients developed herpes zoster (n = 9), herpes simplex I (n = 1) or herpes simplex II (n = 2) infections at a median of 8 (range 1-17) months following initiation of fludarabine, with 75% of these having completed therapy. All patients with herpes zoster developed severe post-herpetic neuralgia. Factors differentiating patients developing these infections included older age and low serum IgG or IgA. Based upon these prospective data, we conclude that herpes virus infections frequently occur following fludarabine treatment, necessitating aggressive patient education and new prophylactic strategies.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10233419&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
An attenuated herpes vaccine may protect Gyr hybrids from fatal inclusion body hepatitis. A preliminary report.

Wernery U, Joseph S, Kinne J.

Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Four Gyr hybrids were used for this falcon herpes vaccine experiment. Three falcons were given 1 ml of an attenuated falcon herpes virus vaccine (DuFaHe) subcutaneously twice within 14 days, whereas the fourth falcon was used as a control. Eighteen days after the booster vaccination, all four Gyr hybrids were intranasally and ocularly challenged with a virulent low-passage falcon herpes virus. The control falcon died 9 days after challenge with typical lesions of herpes virus inclusion body hepatitis. The three vaccinated falcons seroconverted and did not show any symptoms. Following the challenge their antibody titres to falcon herpes virus increased. No herpes virus was isolated from any of the cloacal swabs taken during this experiment, indicating that there was no danger for any other birds from DuFaHe. This experiment shows that falcons can be protected from herpes virus infection by an attenuated herpes virus vaccine. However, it should be stressed that only four falcons were used for this experiment.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11846017&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Apolipoprotein E and herpes virus diseases: herpes simplex keratitis.

Lin WR, Tullo AB, Itzhaki RF.

Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, UMIST, Manchester, UK.

Our previous studies showed that herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV1) is present in a high proportion of the brain of elderly normal people and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. We subsequently discovered that the combination of HSV1 in brain and carriage of the type 4 allele of the gene for apolipoprotein E (apoE-epsilon 4) is a strong risk factor for AD, and also that apoE-epsilon 4 is a strong risk factor for herpes labialis. In this study we have examined apoE genotypes of sufferers from another disorder caused by HSV1, namely, herpes simplex keratitis (HSK), to find if an apoE allele is involved in the disorder. In 46 HSK patients the apoE-epsilon 4 allele frequency was 15%-the same as that found in 238 unaffected controls. The apoE-epsilon 2 allele frequency was 13%-higher than the value of 7% for unaffected people, but the difference is not statistically significant.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10234519&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Historical findings in subjects from a high socioeconomic group who have genital infections with herpes simplex virus.

Knox SR, Corey L, Blough HA, Lerner AM.

HELP Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, American Social Health Association, Palo Alto, California, USA.

A highly motivated, self-selected group of 1,535 men and 1,607 women of middle-to-high socioeconomic class who had recurring genital herpes were surveyed in an assessment of the historical characteristics of these subjects and their disease. All subjects lived in the continental United States and were members of the national herpes organization, HELP, sponsored by the American Social Health Association. Subjects were predominantly well-educated white persons (mean educational level, 15.2 years) earning > $20,000 per year. The mean ages of acquisition of genital herpes were 26.9 years for women and 30.8 years for men. The mean durations of infection were 3.9 years for women and 5.1 years for men. Women usually acquired genital herpes between the ages of 20 and 29 years, whereas substantial numbers of men experienced their initial episodes of infection when they were in their thirties. The population studied was predominantly heterosexual. Many of the subjects, especially the men, had experienced other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonococcal or nongonococcal urethritis. Over two-thirds of the subjects experienced more than five relapses every year, and the percentage of subjects with more than five recurrences yearly did not decrease with time.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10328018&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Herpes-like virus detection in infected Crassostrea gigas spat using DIG-labelled probes.

Lipart C, Renault T.

Laboratoire de Genetique et Pathologie, IFREMER, 17390, La Tremblade, France.

An in situ hybridization protocol for detecting the herpes-like virus which infects French Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, was developed. Two DNA probes were synthesized by incorporation of digoxigenin 11-dUTP during PCR. Two oyster herpes-like virus specific primer pairs, A5/A6 and C1/C6, were used. Both DIG-labelled probes were able to detect 50 pg of herpes-like virus PCR amplified DNA in Southern blot hybridizations. The probes hybridized with viral DNA in paraffin sections of infected C. gigas spat. No non-specific binding was observed. The ability of the defined in situ hybridization technique to diagnose herpes-like virus infections in oysters was compared with light and transmission electron microscopy techniques in infected and non-infected spat. In situ hybridization assays were also conducted on paraffin sections to determine virus distribution within the host and to study the pathogenesis infection. In situ hybridization confirmed that the expression pattern of the herpes-like virus was restricted to connective tissues as described previously by light and transmission electron microscopy. However, this technique also allowed the detection of viral DNA in the oyster nervous system. Some labelled cells were observed in the visceral ganglion of infected oyster spat.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11849678&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Herpes zoster and its complications in Italy: an observational survey.

di Luzio Paparatti U, Arpinelli F, Visona G.

Glaxo Wellcome S.p.A., Research and Development, Verona, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the rate of Herpes zoster and its complications in Italy. METHODS: this is an observational, retrospective study carried out by Dermatologists, Geriatric Doctors and General Practitioners. Details on demography, clinical and therapeutic aspects were reported on record forms. The rate of Herpes zoster was only calculated for patients aged 15 years or more, attending General Practitioners because this was the only group where the number of patients at risk was known. The hypothesis that the rate of complications depends on sex, age and number of affected dermatomes was explored through univariate (Chi-square tests) and multivariate (logistic regression) analysis. RESULTS: the number of cases of Herpes zoster examined by General Practitioners was 4.1 persons aged 15 years or more/1000/year. Usually, only one dermatome was affected, most frequently the thoracic one. Overall the rate of complications was 26.1% The rate of complications is significantly higher (P = 0.001) in patients with two or more affected dermatomes, it is positively correlated to age while difference by sex is not significant (P = 0.297). Practically all patients received treatment for their disease. CONCLUSIONS: this is the first epidemiological study on Herpes zoster that has been conducted in Italy. It indicates that annually there are about 200 000 people aged 15 years and over suffering from Herpes zoster in Italy, with a considerable number of cases of post herpetic neuralgia.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10342652&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine