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Published on: August 16, 2013
Electron microscopic observations on the virus particles in Herpes simplex encephalitis
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|January 1, 1969
Summary
Electron microscopy detected herpes-like virus particles in brain tissue from fatal Herpes simplex encephalitis cases. This technique aids diagnosis, even with preserved samples, before virology results are available.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a severe neurological condition.
- Diagnosis often relies on clinical and histological findings, but virus confirmation can be delayed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of electron microscopy (EM) in diagnosing HSE.
- To assess EM's effectiveness on preserved brain tissue.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy was used to examine cerebral cortex tissue from eight fatal HSE cases.
- Tissue samples had been preserved in formalin or embedded in paraffin for up to four years.
Main Results:
- Herpes-like virus particles were observed in the nuclei of brain cells in six out of eight cases.
- EM successfully identified viral particles in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues.
Conclusions:
- Electron microscopy is a valuable adjunctive diagnostic tool for Herpes simplex encephalitis.
- EM can provide rapid diagnostic insights, even with aged tissue samples, preceding definitive virological confirmation.
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