This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rozenberg, F Articles by Lebon, P Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rozenberg, F Articles by Lebon, P

Amplification and characterization of herpesvirus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with acute encephalitis.

Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Infections Virales, Hopital Saint-Vincent de Paul, Paris, France.

ABSTRACT

A single pair of oligonucleotide primers selected within a highly conserved region of the DNA polymerase gene of the herpesviruses was designed to amplify related viral genomes, i.e., herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus, by the polymerase chain reaction. A simple restriction enzyme analysis of these amplified products allowed accurate characterization of the herpesvirus type. Ninety-nine cerebrospinal fluid samples from 36 patients (including newborns, children, and adults) with acute encephalitis were tested for the presence and identification of herpesvirus DNA by this approach. High levels of viral DNA, which were readily visualized by simple ethidium bromide staining, were found in all these patients from the first days of the disease and, in some cases, until the third week following the onset of acute encephalitis. The herpesvirus type was rapidly identified by enzymatic digestion in 33 patients' samples and by hybridization and direct sequencing in the last 3 patients' samples. Our results show that the polymerase chain reaction provides a highly sensitive and specific technique for the identification of herpesviruses DNA in cerebrospinal fluid that should be of value for early and rapid diagnosis, therapeutic decisions, prognostic evaluation, and epidemiological studies.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Elbers, J. M., Bitnun, A., Richardson, S. E., Ford-Jones, E. L., Tellier, R., Wald, R. M., Petric, M., Kolski, H., Heurter, H., MacGregor, D. (2007). A 12-Year Prospective Study of Childhood Herpes Simplex Encephalitis: Is There a Broader Spectrum of Disease?. Pediatrics 119: e399-e407 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Korimbocus, J., Scaramozzino, N., Lacroix, B., Crance, J. M., Garin, D., Vernet, G. (2005). DNA Probe Array for the Simultaneous Identification of Herpesviruses, Enteroviruses, and Flaviviruses. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 3779-3787 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tran, T H C, Rozenberg, F, Cassoux, N, Rao, N A, LeHoang, P, Bodaghi, B (2003). Polymerase chain reaction analysis of aqueous humour samples in necrotising retinitis. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 87: 79-83 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Banks, M., King, D. P., Daniells, C., Stagg, D. A., Gavier-Widen, D. (2002). Partial characterization of a novel gammaherpesvirus isolated from a European badger (Meles meles). J. Gen. Virol. 83: 1325-1330 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Chu, K., Kang, D.-W., Lee, J.-J., Yoon, B.-W. (2002). Atypical Brainstem Encephalitis Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 2. Arch Neurol 59: 460-463 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Haddad, E., Paczesny, S., Leblond, V., Seigneurin, J.-M., Stern, M., Achkar, A., Bauwens, M., Delwail, V., Debray, D., Duvoux, C., Hubert, P., de Ligny, B. H., Wijdenes, J., Durandy, A., Fischer, A. (2001). Treatment of B-lymphoproliferative disorder with a monoclonal anti-interleukin-6 antibody in 12 patients: a multicenter phase 1-2 clinical trial. Blood 97: 1590-1597 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Johnson, G., Nelson, S., Petric, M., Tellier, R. (2000). Comprehensive PCR-Based Assay for Detection and Species Identification of Human Herpesviruses. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 3274-3279 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kessler, H. H., Mühlbauer, G., Rinner, B., Stelzl, E., Berger, A., Dörr, H.-W., Santner, B., Marth, E., Rabenau, H. (2000). Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA by Real-Time PCR. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 2638-2642 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hofgartner, W. T., Huhmer, A. F.R., Landers, J. P., Kant, J. A. (1999). Rapid Diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis Using Microchip Electrophoresis of PCR Products. Clin. Chem. 45: 2120-2128 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tang, Y.-W., Mitchell, P. S., Espy, M. J., Smith, T. F., Persing, D. H. (1999). Molecular Diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections in the Central Nervous System. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 2127-2136 [Full Text]  
• Minjolle, S., Michelet, C., Jusselin, I., Joannes, M., Cartier, F., Colimon, R. (1999). Amplification of the Six Major Human Herpesviruses from Cerebrospinal Fluid by a Single PCR. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 950-953 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Benkerrou, M., Jais, J.-P., Leblond, V., Durandy, A., Sutton, L., Bordigoni, P., Garnier, J. L., Le Bidois, J., Le Deist, F., Blanche, S., Fischer, A. (1998). Anti-B-Cell Monoclonal Antibody Treatment of Severe Posttransplant B-Lymphoproliferative Disorder: Prognostic Factors and Long-Term Outcome. Blood 92: 3137-3147 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• McGrath, N, Anderson, N E, Croxson, M C, Powell, K F (1997). Herpes simplex encephalitis treated with acyclovir: diagnosis and long term outcome. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 63: 321-326 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lipton, S.A., Ma, M.J. (1996). Case 36-1996- A 37-Year-Old Man with AIDS, Neurologic Deterioration, and Multiple Hemorrhagic Cerebral Lesions. NEJM 335: 1587-1595 [Full Text]  
• Kennedy, C. (1995). Acute viral encephalitis in childhood. BMJ 310: 139-140 [Full Text]