Detection and direct typing of herpes simplex virus in perianal ulcers of patients with AIDS by PCR.

The presence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 in perianal ulcerations of 41 AIDS patients was assessed by virus culture and a type-specific PCR-based assay. HSV was isolated from the lesion site in 24 of 41 (58.5%) patients, and HSV DNA was detected by PCR in all 24 (100%) of these specimens. Additionally, PCR was used to detect HSV DNA in 12 of 17 (70.5%) HSV culture-negative samples. Thus, HSV genomic sequences could be demonstrated in 36 of 41 (87.8%) perianal ulcers in this series. Full agreement in HSV typing by either immunodot assay or PCR was seen in 24 samples that were positive by both virus culture and PCR. HSV-2 was demonstrated in 35 of 36 (97.2%) HSV-positive samples.