Concurrent detection of herpes simplex and varicella-zoster viruses by polymerase chain reaction from the same anatomic location

Neelam Dhiman; Patricia A Wright; Mark J Espy; Susan K Schneider; Thomas F Smith; Bobbi S Pritt

doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.03.014

Concurrent detection of herpes simplex and varicella-zoster viruses by polymerase chain reaction from the same anatomic location

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2011 Aug;70(4):538-40. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.03.014. Epub 2011 Jun 11.

Authors

Neelam Dhiman¹, Patricia A Wright, Mark J Espy, Susan K Schneider, Thomas F Smith, Bobbi S Pritt

Affiliation

¹ Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

PMID: 21658875
DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.03.014

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) may cause latent infection of the same peripheral nerve ganglia. However, there are no large studies addressing the frequency of concurrent HSV/VZV PCR positivity from the same anatomic location. In an eight-year retrospective study, we observed 1.3% dual positivity from dermal, genital, and oral mucosal sources.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods*
Comorbidity
Female
Herpes Simplex / epidemiology*
Herpes Zoster / epidemiology*
Herpesvirus 3, Human / genetics
Herpesvirus 3, Human / isolation & purification*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Simplexvirus / genetics
Simplexvirus / isolation & purification*
Virology / methods*