A panel of monoclonal antibodies to herpes simplex virus glycoproteins was used for serological analysis of 130 strains. Based on specific immunological determinants, strains of each serotype clustered into subgroups. Monoclonal antibodies were suitable reagents for serotyping and have potential application to epidemiology of herpes simplex virus infections.
Direct immunofluorescence (IF) staining was compared with virus isolation for detection of herpes simplex viruses (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) directly in clinical materials. These included 199 vesicular lesion specimens and 280 tissue specimens. Correspondence between IF and isolation results was 88% in testing for HSV in lesion specimens and 98% in testing for HSV in various tissue (mostly brain) specimens. Overall, IF was positive for 82% of the specimens in which HSV was demonstrated, and virus was isolated from 89% of the HSV-positive specimens. IF was markedly more sensitive than isolation for demonstrating VZV in lesion and tissue specimens, detecting all of the specimens positive for VZV, whereas isolation detected only 23%. IF detected VZV antigen in a number of lesion specimens taken late after onset, past the time when they would be expected to yield infectious virus. Specificity of positive IF reactions for HSV or VZV in the absence of virus isolation was supported by the facts that (i) staining was obtained with only a single, presumably homologous, immune conjugate, (ii) clinical symptoms were compatible with infection with the virus for which positive IF findings were obtained, and (iii) positive electron microscopy findings for herpesviruses or positive serological results for VZV were also obtained in some instances. Factors to be considered in achieving specificity of IF staining for these human herpesviruses are discussed.
Direct immunofluorescence and direct immunoperoxidase staining were equally sensitive and specific for detection of herpes simplex virus antigen in lesion specimens, and each method showed 82% agreement with virus isolation results.
of current infection showed anomalous antibody results by complement fixation test when tested with a battery of agents (viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and chlamydia) selected for testing on the basis of the symptoms of the patient. Seventeen serum pairs showed a fourfold or greater rise in titer of antibody to two agents in the battery, and one showed only a twofold rise in titer of antibody to the identified causative agent but an eightfold rise in titer of antibody to a heterologous agent. The 18 serum pairs were tested for IgM antibody to the two involved agents to determine whether IgM antibody tests would better distinguish the probable cause of the current infection. The serum pairs were separated into three groups based on their IgM responses. Group I consisted of six serum pairs with IgM antibody to both agents, four pairs of which showed a fourfold or greater rise in titer of IgM antibody to both agents, and two of which showed a rise in titer of IgM antibody to only one of the two agents. Group II consisted of 10 serum pairs with IgM antibody to one of the two agents, 7 pairs of which showed a fourfold or greater rise in titer of IgM antibody to the agent. Group III consisted of two serum pairs with no IgM antibody to either agent. Results show that determination of presence or absence of IgM antibody per se or demonstration of a fourfold or greater rise in specific IgM antibody titer does not always help in distinguishing the causative agent in current infections.
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