Diagnosis and practice of virological monitoring of infections by the human herpesviruses 6A and 6B

Abstract

The diagnosis of the infection by the human herpesviruses 6A and 6B (HHV-6A, HHV-6B) is based on a direct and an indirect approaches. Serological methods are mainly used to ask primary infection diagnosis and carry out epidemiological studies. However, limitations are numerous with, in particular, the existence of cross-reactivity with other herpesviruses, and the inability to differentiate the two kinds of HHV-6. Initially based on virus isolation in cell culture, direct diagnosis evolved with the development of gene amplification methods that provide sensitivity and specificity, and allow viral quantitation in many biological systems and the identification of present species. Its main current indications are the identification of active infection, the identification of the integrated form of HHV-6 (iciHHV-6, inherited chromosomally integrated HHV-6) and the monitoring of the effectiveness of antiviral treatment.