Rates of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 in Ocular and Peri-ocular Specimens

To evaluate the rates of Herpes Simplex Virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) in ocular specimens.

Retrospective case series of all patients with a positive laboratory evaluation for ocular HSV performed at the Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2017 were included in the study.

A total of 423 specimens were positive for HSV-1 (99.3%, n = 419) or HSV-2 (0.7%; n = 4). The majority of positive tests were identified through DNA amplification (n = 352; 83%) testing while the remainder were obtained by viral culture (n = 71; 17%). Ocular disease caused by HSV-2 in this study included acute retinal necrosis (n = 2), keratitis (n = 1), and blepharitis (n = 1).

HSV type 2 is a rare cause of ocular and peri-ocular infection but may cause severe, vision threatening disease.