Detection of herpes simplex virus-1 by nested PCR. An experimental model

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Molecular Biology
• Diagnostic Microbiology

Background:

• Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections require accurate and timely diagnosis.
• Traditional viral culture methods for HSV-1 detection can be time-consuming and may lack optimal sensitivity.
• Nested PCR offers a potentially more sensitive molecular approach for viral detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic performance of nested PCR compared to viral culture for HSV-1 detection.
• To assess the sensitivity and speed of nested PCR in a rabbit model of HSV-1 infection.

Main Methods:

• Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed and utilized.
• Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was experimentally induced in New Zealand white rabbits.
• Samples were collected from infected rabbits at 7 and 21 days post-infection.
• Viral presence was determined using both nested PCR and conventional viral culture.

Main Results:

• Nested PCR detected HSV-1 in 84.21% of animals, significantly outperforming viral culture (52.63%).
• The nested PCR assay demonstrated higher sensitivity, particularly in samples collected earlier (day 7 post-infection) (p < 0.05).
• Overall HSV-1 detection rate across both methods was 90.47%.

Conclusions:

• Nested PCR is a highly sensitive and rapid method for detecting HSV-1.
• This molecular technique is reliable and advantageous for clinical laboratories diagnosing herpes virus infections.
• Nested PCR surpasses viral culture in sensitivity for early-stage HSV-1 detection.