Typing of herpes simplex virus from human periodontium.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is frequently detected in gingival crevicular fluid and in gingival biopsies of periodontal lesions; however, the relative occurrence of HSV type 1 and 2 in periodontal specimens has not been established. This investigation used type-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in periodontal pocket samples from 26 patients who had previously been revealed to have periodontal HSV by PCR amplification of a gene shared by HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 was detected in all 26 periodontal pocket specimens and HSV-2 was not detected. Apparently, HSV-2 is a rare inhabitant of periodontal sites.