Testing of the Adhesion of Herpes Simplex Virus on Textile Substrates and Its Inactivation by Household Laundry Processes

Anja Gerhardts,Andrea Kyas,Dirk Bockmühl,Mirko Weide,Anja Hofmann,Dirk Höfer,Ingrid Rapp

doi:10.4236/jbm.2016.412015

Abstract

Viral infections like Herpes simplex increasingly pose a serious threat to European health care systems and welfare of the population. Indirect transmission routes of infections via inanimate surfaces are often underestimated. In this study, we investigated the adhesion and persistence of Herpes simplex virus on cotton fabrics as well as its inactivation by domestic laundry. Virus adhesion to textile fibers was distinct, because viral DNA was detectable on fabrics for at least 48 hours after contamination as well as after home laundry. Particles remained infectious for several hours at room temperature and partially for 48 hours at 2℃ - 8℃. Nevertheless, domestic laundry was able to inactivate virus particles given that detergents were adequately used. This confirmed that standard household laundry processes, as established in Europe, are a suitable tool to reduce infectious Herpes virus particles from textiles, thereby supporting the prevention of infections circulating in the household and community.

Highlights

After elution of swabs and isolation of the viral DNA, specific DNA fragments were amplified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were made visible by gel electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)-1 is expected to show a single band of 522 bp, whereas HSV-2 is represented by two bands of 292 bp and 230 bp in length
After digestion and electrophoresis of PCR products, the sampled specimens could be identified as HSV-1 isolates by their specific fragment lengths

Summary

Introduction

Herpes simplex viruses are distributed worldwide and are among the most common pathogens. Herpes viruses are usually transmitted via droplet infection from throat secretions, as well as by contamination with the vesicle fluid from skin lesions and from the typical mucosal lesions of the oral-facial area (blisters) and genital organs [5]. The most known route of infection for HSV-1 is direct, i.e. through contact with herpes blisters or through saliva. Herpes simplex virus can be spread from persons displaying acute symptoms, and from asymptomatic ones [8]. Infections transmitted by asymptomatic persons today are considered to be the main route [9] [10]

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Results

Conclusion