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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Determination of Biofilm Initiation on Virus-infected Cells by Bacteria and Fungi
Published on: July 6, 2016
Is herpes simplex virus associated with pulp/periapical inflammation?
I Heling1, M Morag-Hezroni, E Marva
1Department of Endodontics, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. heling@cc.huji.ac.il
Objectives:
This study focuses on the detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA in dental pulp and inflamed periapical tissue.
Study Design:
Dental pulp tissue (vital and necrotic) and periapical tissue samples were collected under strictly sterile conditions and examined for the presence of HSV DNA. Saliva samples were also examined for the presence of the viral DNA. The polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect viral DNA. Blood samples were collected, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against HSV was carried out.
Results:
According to the ELISA test, 19 of the 23 blood samples were IgG-positive and IgM-negative to HSV, whereas 4 were IgG-negative and IgM-negative. HSV DNA was not detected in the tissue and the saliva samples tested.
Conclusion:
HSV is not present and therefore is probably not involved in the pathology of tooth neural tissue.
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