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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Plaquing of Herpes Simplex Viruses
Published on: November 5, 2021
Herpes simplex virus and pterygium in Taiwan
Yeong-Fong Chen1, Ching-Hsi Hsiao, Kah-Wai Ngan
1Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan. a10429@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Purpose:
To evaluate the presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in pterygia to study the possible association between HSV and pterygia in Taiwan, a tropical country with a high prevalence of pterygium.
Methods:
Sixty-five pterygia, 10 normal conjunctiva, 8 conjunctival nevi, and 2 malignant conjunctival melanomas were obtained. Clinical histories were recorded for each patient. HSV detection was accomplished by polymerase chain reaction amplification of viral sequences. HSV-positive specimens underwent subsequent DNA in situ hybridization. Results were statistically analyzed.
Results:
By using polymerase chain reaction, HSV was detected in 3 (5%) pterygia, and no conjunctival control displayed HSV. All 3 HSV-positive pterygia studies were DNA in situ hybridization negative. There was no statistically significant correlation between pterygium and the presence of HSV.
Conclusions:
HSV is not associated with pterygium formation in Taiwan; the pathogenesis of pterygia is still incompletely understood.
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