Longitudinal evaluation of herpes simplex virus DNA load during episodes of herpes labialis. |
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Authors: | Guy Boivin Nathalie Goyette Yan Sergerie Sharon Keays Tristan Booth |
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Affiliation: | Infectious Diseases Research Center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec and Laval University, Québec City, Quebec, Canada. Guy.Boivin@crchul.ulaval.ca |
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Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Few studies have performed sequential evaluation of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) load using quantitative PCR during episodes of herpes labialis. OBJECTIVE: To determine HSV viral load kinetics during recurrences of herpes labialis. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-two subjects were monitored by daily swabs during recurrences of herpes labialis. A real-time PCR detecting both HSV-1 and HSV-2 was used to quantify the viral load. RESULTS: Median duration of HSV-1 shedding was 60 h and 48 h by PCR and culture, respectively. No HSV-2 DNA was detected in that study. Peak viral DNA load (123.6 copies/cell) occurred at 48 h with no virus detected beyond 96 h of onset of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These viral load kinetics data could be used as surrogate markers of antiviral activity in future clinical trials. |
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