BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is assumed to cause recrudescent lesions, usually through endogenous recurrence and rarely through exogenous re-infection. The occurrence of exogenous re-infection in genital and corneal HSV infections has been previously demonstrated using genomic analysis, while exogenous re-infection in oral-facial HSV infections has not been shown. OBJECTIVES: To confirm the occurrence of exogenous HSV re-infection in oral-facial HSV infections. STUDY DESIGN: Seven isolates (isolates 1-7) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were sequentially separated from the same individual. Genomic profiles of HSV-1 isolates were studied: (i) by analysis of 20 RFLPs (restriction fragment length polymorphisms) and (ii) by the determination of nucleotide sequences of a PCR-amplified DNA fragment encompassing reiteration VII (hypervariable region) that belongs to sequences containing short tandem repeats. RESULTS: Isolates 1-5 were the same (F83 genotype) and isolates 6 and 7 were the same (F84 genotype), although isolates 1-5 were markedly different from isolates 6 and 7 in genomic profiles. CONCLUSIONS: The infection associated with isolates 6 and 7 was due to exogenous re-infection with F84 genotype virus, thus indicating the occurrence of exogenous HSV re-infection in oral-facial HSV infections.
BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is assumed to cause recrudescent lesions, usually through endogenous recurrence and rarely through exogenous re-infection. The occurrence of exogenous re-infection in genital and corneal HSV infections has been previously demonstrated using genomic analysis, while exogenous re-infection in oral-facial HSV infections has not been shown. OBJECTIVES: To confirm the occurrence of exogenous HSV re-infection in oral-facial HSV infections. STUDY DESIGN: Seven isolates (isolates 1-7) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were sequentially separated from the same individual. Genomic profiles of HSV-1 isolates were studied: (i) by analysis of 20 RFLPs (restriction fragment length polymorphisms) and (ii) by the determination of nucleotide sequences of a PCR-amplified DNA fragment encompassing reiteration VII (hypervariable region) that belongs to sequences containing short tandem repeats. RESULTS: Isolates 1-5 were the same (F83 genotype) and isolates 6 and 7 were the same (F84 genotype), although isolates 1-5 were markedly different from isolates 6 and 7 in genomic profiles. CONCLUSIONS: The infection associated with isolates 6 and 7 was due to exogenous re-infection with F84 genotype virus, thus indicating the occurrence of exogenous HSV re-infection in oral-facial HSV infections.
Authors: Monique van Velzen; Werner J D Ouwendijk; Stacy Selke; Suzan D Pas; Freek B van Loenen; Albert D M E Osterhaus; Anna Wald; Georges M G M Verjans Journal: J Med Virol Date: 2013-06-18 Impact factor: 2.327