Herpes virus reactivation by low-intensity diode and CO₂ lasers

The herpes virus enters into latency after symptomatic or asymptomatic herpetic infection. During latency, the virus has no impact on infected cells. However, internal or external stimuli, including certain lasers, can induce virus reactivation.

The aim was to study the reactivation power of the low-intensity diode and CO(2) lasers on the latent herpes virus.

The bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) was inoculated in either the nasal cavity or the lacrimal film of an animal model. Once the virus entered into latency, the trigeminal ganglia of animals were exposed to either a low-intensity diode or CO(2) laser. The reactivation of the virus was then explored by PCR, RT-PCR, and dot-blot hybridization on nasal or lacrimal swabs. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the aforementioned techniques were compared.

The low-intensity diode laser reactivated the herpes virus less than the CO(2) laser. The nasally inoculated virus was more liable for reactivation by both lasers. PCR was considered as the standard method for the detection of the reactivated virus.

Low-intensity diode and CO(2) lasers can induce herpes virus reactivation, with the diode laser less likely to reactivate the virus than the CO(2) laser.