Close association of predominant genotype of herpes simplex virus type 1 with eczema herpeticum analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strains belonging to the same genotype can possibly share biological properties and clinical manifestations common to the genotype. We classified previously 66 HSV-1 strains into 35 genotypes (F1-F35) using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and F1 and F35 genotypes were revealed to be predominant [Arch. Virol. 13 (1993) 29]. It was found later that the F35 genotype seemed to be closely associated with eczema herpeticum [J. Med. Virol. 49 (1996) 329]. In the present study, a convenient method was developed for classification of two predominant genotypes by RFLP of polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR). Using this method, genotypes of 21 strains isolated from eczema herpeticum were analyzed; seven of 21 strains (33.3%) were of F1 and five of 21 (23.8%) were of F35. Genotypes of 19 strains isolated from facial herpes other than eczema herpeticum were as follows; six of 19 (31.6%) strains were of F1 and one of 19 (5.3%) were of F35. Thus, strains belonging to F35 were appear to have been isolated more frequently from eczema herpeticum (5/21) than from facial herpes (1/19). These ratios showed a statistically significant difference. These results support the hypothesis that F35 strains is clearly associated with eczema herpeticum, in agreement with previous study. This is the first report of PCR-based approach for classification of HSV-1 strains into genotypes seeking an association of a genotype with clinical manifestation.