Diagnosis of Herpesvirus hominis infections in a general hospital laboratory

Abstract

There is a greatly increased interest in Herpesvirus hominis infections especially those of type 2 associated with genital lesions or neonatal disease. Physicians are eager to confirm the clinical impression with a specific virologic diagnosis such as isolation of the agent and its typing, and type-specific antibody responses. Procedures are reviewed here which permit such studies in general microbiology laboratories equipped for simple cell culture and immunofluorescence. This paper recounts experience with several laboratory methods and evaluates their efficiency and practicability in a general laboratory. Virus isolation was optimal if specimens were obtained from visible lesions early in their evolution and it often provided a specific diagnosis, including typing of the isolate by immunofluorescence, within 24 to 48 h. Estimation of serum antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 by indirect immunofluorescence was more sensitive and perhaps also more specific than by microneutralization test. A pilot study of herpes simplex virus antibody titers in mothers and in the cord blood of the offspring suggested the need to evaluate a possible protective role of high titer antibody in the fetus.