OBJECTIVE To report the frequency of coexisting herpes viruses (herpes simplex virus 1 [HSV-1] or HSV-2, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], cytomegalovirus, or human herpes virus 6 [HHV-6]) and autoantibodies in patients with encephalitis (herpes or autoimmune) in clinical laboratory service. METHODS Three groups were evaluated for herpes viruses and antibodies: group 1-patient...

Kudos to all of you for knowing your and your respective partners? herpes status! Having the "I have herpes" discussion with sexual partners may be a sensitive topic to talk about, but they?re critical to informing risk-reduction strategies and prioritizing each other?s health. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be transmitted through oral sex, as the virus that causes herpes is transmitted through skin-...

HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence has increased by 32% in the last decade. Overall, HSV-2 seroprevalence is 22% in the general US adult population, and in some populations, such as sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic attendees, seroprevalence varies between 30% and 50%. Concomitant with this increase in genital herpes has been an increase in reported cases of neonatal her...

Comparison of microbicides for efficacy in protecting mice against vaginal challenge with herpes simplex virus type 2, cytotoxicity, antibacterial properties, and sperm immobilization. Candidate microbicide PPCM blocks human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in cell and tissue cultures and prevents genital herpes in a murine model. ACIDFORM inactivates herpes simplex virus and prevents ge...

Viral folliculitis is a rare disease usually caused by herpes simplex, herpes zoster and molluscum contagiosum in immune-compromised patients. An otherwise healthy 30 year old patient without history of herpes simplex contracted a folliculitis in the beard region after a flu-like illness. He had no oral or labial lesions but instead showed a crusty erythematous folliculitis confined to the bear...

A rapid indirect micro-immunofluorescence test capable of detecting and differentiating type-specific antibodies to herpes simplex virus is described. The test proved highly sensitive and, in 80 patients with active herpes ocular infection, antibody was detected in 94%. No anti-herpes antibody was detected in a control group of 20 patients with adenovirus infections. Testing of animal sera prep...

Herpes simplex virus is a widespread disease affecting about one-third of the world’s population. Many individuals suffer from its painful and debilitating manifestations, which greatly impact daily living and can lower one’s self-esteem and confidence. It is therefore vital to understand this disease process including its acquisition, replication, transmission, clinical manifestations, diagnos...

Although herpes zoster is not a reportable condition in the United States, its incidence has been inferred from a variety of studies to range from 3.2 to 4.2 per 1,000 patient-years. This incidence translates into an estimated 1 million cases of herpes zoster annually. Overall, an estimated 32% of persons in the United States will have herpes zoster during their lifetimes. In a recent populatio...

JEADV 2006, 20, 868–902 © 2006 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 889 4 Beasley KL, Cooley GE, Kao GF, Lowitt MH, Burnett JW, Aurelian L. Herpes simplex vegetans: atypical genital herpes infection in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency. J Am Acad Dermatol 1997; 37: 860–863. 5 Samaratunga H, Weedon D, Musgrave N, McCallum N. Atypical presentation of herpes simplex (chron...

Accurate identification of persons with genital herpes is necessary for optimal patient management and prevention of transmission. Because of inherent inaccuracies, clinical diagnosis of genital herpes should be confirmed by laboratory testing for the causative agents herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV type 2 (HSV-2). Further identification of the HSV type is valuable for counselling o...