Biomaterial Database

Detection of herpes simplex and varicella-zoster infection from cutaneous lesions in different clinical stages with the polymerase chain reaction. 1995

G T Nahass, and M J Mandel, and S Cook, and W Fan, and C L Leonardi

Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, MO 63104, USA.

BACKGROUND The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to diagnose a variety of infectious processes. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether Tzanck smear debris, vesicle fluid swabs, crusts, or fixed tissue specimens are the best source for template herpes simplex virus (HSV) or varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA for the PCR. METHODS Patients with both clinical and histologic evidence of HSV (n = 6) or VZV (n = 16) infection were examined. Stained Tzanck smears, vesicle fluid swabs, dried crusts, and skin biopsy specimens were obtained at the same time from each patient. DNA was extracted from the different clinical specimens and then examined for HSV or VZV DNA with PCR. Fifteen control subjects did not have clinical or histologic evidence of herpesvirus infection. RESULTS In cases of suspected VZV infection, PCR detected VZV DNA sequences from all 15 Tzanck smears, all 15 vesicle swabs, one of one crust, and 14 of 16 fixed tissue specimens. HSV DNA sequences were detected from all six Tzanck smears, all four vesicle fluid swabs, two of two crusts, and five of six fixed tissue specimens. CONCLUSIONS PCR can detect VZV and HSV DNA sequences from a variety of sources including formalin-fixed tissue specimens. Although viral DNA was detected slightly more frequently from Tzanck smear debris, crusts, and vesicle fluid swabs compared with fixed tissue specimens, each was an excellent source of target DNA for the PCR to confirm the diagnosis of herpesvirus infection.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002644	Chickenpox	A highly contagious infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (HERPESVIRUS 3, HUMAN). It usually affects children, is spread by direct contact or respiratory route via droplet nuclei, and is characterized by the appearance on the skin and mucous membranes of successive crops of typical pruritic vesicular lesions that are easily broken and become scabbed. Chickenpox is relatively benign in children, but may be complicated by pneumonia and encephalitis in adults. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Varicella,Chicken Pox
D004279	DNA, Viral	Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of viruses.	Viral DNA
D006561	Herpes Simplex	A group of acute infections caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 that is characterized by the development of one or more small fluid-filled vesicles with a raised erythematous base on the skin or mucous membrane. It occurs as a primary infection or recurs due to a reactivation of a latent infection. (Dorland, 27th ed.)	Herpes Simplex Virus Infection
D006562	Herpes Zoster	An acute infectious, usually self-limited, disease believed to represent activation of latent varicella-zoster virus (HERPESVIRUS 3, HUMAN) in those who have been rendered partially immune after a previous attack of CHICKENPOX. It involves the SENSORY GANGLIA and their areas of innervation and is characterized by severe neuralgic pain along the distribution of the affected nerve and crops of clustered vesicles over the area. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Shingles,Zona,Zoster
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.
D014645	Herpesvirus 3, Human	The type species of VARICELLOVIRUS causing CHICKENPOX (varicella) and HERPES ZOSTER (shingles) in humans.	Chickenpox Virus,Herpes zoster Virus,Ocular Herpes zoster Virus,VZ Virus,Varicella-Zoster Virus,HHV-3,Herpesvirus 3 (alpha), Human,Herpesvirus Varicellae,Human Herpesvirus 3,Chickenpox Viruses,Herpes zoster Viruses,VZ Viruses,Varicella Zoster Virus,Varicella-Zoster Viruses,Varicellae, Herpesvirus
D016133	Polymerase Chain Reaction	In vitro method for producing large amounts of specific DNA or RNA fragments of defined length and sequence from small amounts of short oligonucleotide flanking sequences (primers). The essential steps include thermal denaturation of the double-stranded target molecules, annealing of the primers to their complementary sequences, and extension of the annealed primers by enzymatic synthesis with DNA polymerase. The reaction is efficient, specific, and extremely sensitive. Uses for the reaction include disease diagnosis, detection of difficult-to-isolate pathogens, mutation analysis, genetic testing, DNA sequencing, and analyzing evolutionary relationships.	Anchored PCR,Inverse PCR,Nested PCR,PCR,Anchored Polymerase Chain Reaction,Inverse Polymerase Chain Reaction,Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction,PCR, Anchored,PCR, Inverse,PCR, Nested,Polymerase Chain Reactions,Reaction, Polymerase Chain,Reactions, Polymerase Chain
D018139	Simplexvirus	A genus of the family HERPESVIRIDAE, subfamily ALPHAHERPESVIRINAE, consisting of herpes simplex-like viruses. The type species is HERPESVIRUS 1, HUMAN.	Herpes Simplex Virus,Herpesvirus 1, Saimiriine,Herpesvirus 1, Saimirine,Herpesvirus 16, Cercopithecine,Marmoset Virus,Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 16,Herpes Labialis Virus,Herpes-T Virus,Herpesvirus 1 (alpha), Saimirine,Herpesvirus Hominis,Herpesvirus Papio 2,Herpesvirus Platyrhinae,Marmoset Herpesvirus,Saimiriine Herpesvirus 1,Herpes Labialis Viruses,Herpes Simplex Viruses,Herpes T Virus,Herpes-T Viruses,Herpesvirus Homini,Herpesvirus, Marmoset,Herpesviruses, Marmoset,Homini, Herpesvirus,Hominis, Herpesvirus,Labialis Virus, Herpes,Labialis Viruses, Herpes,Marmoset Herpesviruses,Marmoset Viruses,Platyrhinae, Herpesvirus,Saimirine Herpesvirus 1,Simplexviruses,Virus, Herpes Labialis,Viruses, Herpes Labialis