Reinfections and site-specific immunity in herpes simplex virus infections

Studies with human volunteers and patients suffering from recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections have shown that reinfections with autologous or heterologous strains, occurring at sites distant from those of the recurrences, are possible in a variable proportion of the subjects. Experiments in animals have shown that mice surviving a primary HSV infection in the lumbo-sacral area, can become latently infected in trigeminal ganglia upon reinfection of the orofacial site. Similar results were obtained after vaccination of mice with a thymidine-kinase negative, non-pathogenic HSV-1 mutant. It was also demonstrated that initial HSV-1 eye infection in rabbits prevents superinfection of trigeminal ganglia by other strains.     

Thymoma,immunodeficiency, and herpes simplex virus infections

Hypogammaglobulinemia develops in 3 to 6% of patients with thymoma and this association is commonly referred to as thymoma with immunodeficiency (formerly Good syndrome). Recurrent infections with encapsulated bacteria and opportunistic infections associated with disorders of both humoral and cell mediated immunity frequently occur in this rare primary, adult-onset immunodeficiency. We report a case of thymoma with immunodeficiency complicated by disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and review five additional cases of HSV-related infections reported since 1966 in patients presenting with thymoma with immunodeficiency. Patients presented with epiglottitis, keratitis, recurrent genital herpes, ulcerative dermatitis, and acute hepatitis. Four of the six cases had a fatal outcome, two of which were directly attributable to HSV infection. Since the risk of invasive opportunistic infections is high and the presentation atypical, lymphocyte count and total serum immunoglobulin should be measured regularly in all patients presenting with thymoma with immunodeficiency.     

单纯疱疹病毒感染的血清学指标检测及临床价值

目的 探讨单纯疱疹病毒(HSV)感染的血清学指标检测的临床价值,为临床诊治提供依据.方法 采用酶联免疫吸附法检测251例典型症状患者、78例无症状可疑患者、63例健康查体者HSV-2 IgM/IgG.结果 典型症状者、无症状可疑者和健康查体者IgM阳性率分别为90.8％、32.1％和3.2％,IgG阳性率分别为97.6％、35.9％和4.8％;典型症状者IgM、IgG阳性率明显高于无症状可疑者和健康查体者(P＜0.05);无症状可疑者IgM、IgG阳性率明显高于健康查体者,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 血清HSV抗体不仅在典型症状者升高,而且能检出无症状的感染者,可为临床HSV感染的诊断及流行病学研究提供重要依据.     

Control of herpes simplex virus infections of the genital tract by vaccination

The apparent increasing incidence of herpes simplex virus infections of the genital tract has focused attention on the efficacy of vaccination in preventing infection or modifying established disease. Results of an 'open trial' using a DNA-free inactivated virus subunit vaccine have shown that vaccination of subjects at risk of contracting infection from their sexual partner reduced the transmission rate from 34% in unvaccinated controls to 0.5%. In a separate study, vaccination of patients who had experienced their first overt attack of herpes genitalis (the initial clinical episode) had significantly fewer recurrences over the follow-up period of 12 months than the unvaccinated control group. The results, we feel, justify a placebo controlled trial.     

A serological study of cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus infections in Peninsular Malaysia

Healthy Malaysians from various parts of Peninsular Malaysia were examined for CF antibodies against cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2. CMV antibodies were detected in 1114 out of 1556 persons (71.6%) and HSV antibodies were detected in 954 persons out of 1554 (61.4%). The age distribution patterns were similar for the two infections, with maximum prevalence at 5 - 14 years of age. Prevalence was higher in women than in men. There were no significant differences among the Malay, Chinese, and Indian groups of the population with respect to CMV, 72 - 78% possessing antibodies, but in the case of HSV, 76% of the Chinese had antibodies, compared with 57 - 60% of the Malays and Indians. More than 90% of newborn infants had CMV and HSV CF antibodies, confirming the highly immune status of childbearing women in Malaysia. No CMV-specific IgM was detected in the Malaysian neonates examined but this does not exclude the possibility of congenital infection.     

Microsporidial infections in immunocompromised hospitalized patients

Microsporidia Encephalitozoon cuniculi, obligate intracellular sporeforming protozoan parasite infecting a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate host, has been described as opportunistic pathogen in severely immunocompromised human host. An antibody immune response to the presence of antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi was investigated serologically using indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Of the total number of 113 sera from immunologically compromised patients examined, 5 were positive at the titre 1:32, 5 at the titre 1:64, and 6 at the titre 1:256. From total number of positive respondent patients were 12 children and 4 adults.     

Protective activity of recombinant cytokines against Sendai virus and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in mice

The efficacy of recombinant cytokines such as murine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), mouse granulocytic-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and human interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been examined for augmentation of host resistance against Sendai virus and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. All four cytokines were found to protect mice against Sendai virus infection. IFN-gamma afforded protection when administered intranasally but not intravenously several days before the infection. Intranasal administration of G-CSF one day before the infection was the most effective administration route and timing. Intranasal administration of GM-CSF was found to afford protection 1 or 3 days before the infection. IL-1 beta demonstrated therapeutic activity against Sendai virus infection after intranasal administration on the same day as the infection. When each of the cytokines was administered subcutaneously four times daily into cyclophosphamide-treated mice before intravenous infection with HSV, only GM-CSF revealed any protective activity.     

单纯疱疹病毒感染对房颤患者的影响分析

目的探讨单纯疱疹病毒感染与心房颤动的关系,为临床诊治提供依据。方法选取2014年1月-2016年12月医院收治的房颤患者96例,其中阵发性房颤68例,持续性房颤28例。另选同期医院健康体检者100例为对照组;所有研究对象于清晨采集空腹血,检测HSV-1抗体和HSV-2抗体,C-反应蛋白(CRP)、胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂C(Cyc)和血脂指标[总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)]。结果阵发性房颤组和持续性房颤组血清HSV-1抗体和HSV-2抗体水平均显著高于对照组(P<0.01),阵发性房颤组和持续性房颤组血清HSV-1抗体和HSV-2抗体水平比较差异无统计学意义;阵发性房颤组和持续性房颤组血清HSV-1抗体阳性率、HSV-2抗体阳性率、CRP、Cyc、TC、TG和LDL-C水平均显著高于对照组,HDL-C水平显著低于对照组(P<0.05),阵发性房颤组和持续性房颤组各指标比较差异均无统计学意义;血清HSV-1抗体和HSV-2抗体与CRP呈明显正相关性(r=0.669,P=0.012;r=0.531,P=0.018);血清HSV-1抗体和HSV-2抗体与Cyc呈明显正相关性(r=0.605,P=0.015;r=0.453,P=0.032)。结论 HSV感染可能通过炎症反应和影响血脂正常代谢等过程,直接或间接地参与房颤的形成过程。     

Presence of herpes simplex virus on the oral mucosa in patients undergoing chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 on the oral mucosa, in patients undergoing chemotherapy, by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS: The research was carried out on 40 patients receiving chemotherapy as treatment for different malignancies. The status of oral mucosa and viral presence were assessed in all patients at the initial examination (prior to chemotherapy), and at the control examination (two weeks after the initiation of the chemotherapeutic cycle). RESULTS: The presence of HSV-1 was detected in 28 patients (70%) prior to chemotherapy, of whom 7 (25%) manifested oral complications. The control examination showed the presence of HSV-1 in 35 patients (87.5%), of whom 23 (65.7%) presented oral mucosa changes. HSV-2 has not been detected in any of the patients.     

结核病患者单纯疱疹病毒感染的检测及临床意义

目的 了解结核病患者单纯疱疹病毒的感染情况,探讨其可能对结核病病情的影响.方法 采用金标免疫斑点渗滤法分别检测51例肺结核患者和30例正常健康人血浆单纯疱疹病毒感染的IgM和IgG.结果 肺结核患者组HSV-IgM的阳性率为88 24%与对照组(66 67%)相比,差异有统计学意义(P＜0 05);HSV-IgG的阳性...     

Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection in the British Isles

Summary. This study was set up to estimate the incidence of neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in the British Isles, and to document the outcome of neonatal infection. Paediatricians reported cases of neonatal HSV through the active reporting scheme of the British Paediatric Association Surveillance Unit. Over a 5half year period (1986-91) 76 infants with neonatal HSV infection were reported, an incidence of recognised infection in the British Isles of 1.65/100000 livebirths. Twenty-five infants had HSV-1 infection, 24 HSV-2 and in 27 virus type was unknown. Twenty-seven had disseminated infection, 23 herpes encephalitis and 26 localised infection. Nineteen infants (25%) died in the neonatal period, and a further 25 (33%) have subsequently died or have long-term sequelae. At least half of the infants had been discharged home before symptoms became apparent. For 21 women there was evidence of a maternal genital herpes infection at some time, but this was reported or diagnosed retrospectively after neonatal HSV was suspected in 19 cases, and ante-natally in only two. Neonatal HSV is rare in the British Isles and routine antenatal screening for genital herpes infection during pregnancy is not justified. A high proportion of infected infants present with non-specific signs and symptoms and without mucocutaneous involvement; furthermore, there is rarely a history of maternal infection. As early diagnosis and prompt treatment is essential, there must be a high level of awareness of the serious nature of neonatal HSV infection.     

Sexual and socioeconomic factors affecting the risk of past infections with herpes simplex virus type 2

Between November 1978 and May 1980, a cross-sectional survey of 566 females and 391 males, aged 35 to 50 years, living in metropolitan Toronto, was conducted to examine the influence of socioeconomic status and sexual behavior on the occurrence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2. Antibodies to the virus were detected in 17.5% of females and 12.8% of males. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with an increased risk of herpes simplex virus type 2 seropositivity for females but not for males. An increased risk of seropositivity was associated in both sexes with young age at first intercourse, multiple sexual partners, and renting rather than owning their residence. The risk associated with each of these attributes remained when the effects of the other attributes including socioeconomic status and age at interview were controlled. The greatest risk was associated with renting. If the renting effect is real, it suggests that there is some determinant of risk not measured by this study, which is more important than socioeconomic status or sexual behavior.     

Accuracy of ICD-9-CM codes in identifying infections of pneumonia and herpes simplex virus in administrative data

PurposeClinical epidemiology studies increasingly rely on electronic medical records data. The validity of International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes is crucial as they are often used to identify conditions of interest. We evaluated the use of archived ICD-9-CM codes to identify two representative infection-related conditions, pneumonia and herpes simplex virus (HSV), in a defined health system.MethodsRecords were obtained for a sample of 175 and 179 patients with ICD-9-CM codes for pneumonia and HSV, respectively. An adjudicated case status was assigned for each subject.ResultsThe presence of a single ICD-9-CM code had a positive predictive value of 88% for pneumonia and 86% for HSV. False positives (noncases) accounted for less than 10% of records evaluated for each condition.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that ICD-9-CM codes for pneumonia and HSV were valid markers of a true history of these conditions, suggesting that ICD-9-CM codes can be used to successfully identify infection-related conditions in epidemiologic studies. However, validation studies for individual conditions may help identify condition-specific strategies to improve the performance of diagnostic codes.