Detection of Herpes simplex Virus (HSV) in Aborted Material Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the contribution of HSV to the aetiopathogenesis of spontaneous abortion. Design: A hospital-based, case-control study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Population and Methods: Abortion material from 102 cases of women with spontaneous abortion was analysed for the presence of HSV DNA applying the PCR technique. Serological assays were used for the detection of specific IgM and IgG antibodies in the maternal sera of 90 pregnant women with successful outcome of their pregnancy while 70 non-pregnant women at reproductive age were also examined as control. Results: The HSV genome was detected by PCR amplification in 3 cases of spontaneous abortion, 2 of them exhibited serological markers of virus reactivation while the 3rd showed a past infection. There were no obvious clinical manifestations indicating a current herpes infection. Both groups of pregnant women, either with spontaneous abortion or with a successful outcome of pregnancy, displayed serological markers of HSV reactivation at higher rates compared with non-pregnant women (χ², p < 0.05). Conclusions: Using the PCR technique we were able to detect the HSV genome in gestational tissues of spontaneous abortions, even in cases without any clinical symptoms or seropositivity for a primary infection. Serological assays were not very useful for the elucidation of the role of HSV in inducing spontaneous abortions, although they indicate that the state of pregnancy predisposes to HSV reactivation. However, the detection of HSV in 3 out of a total number of 102 cases does not support HSV infection as a major abortion-related factor.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and 2 among Women Attending Antenatal and Gynecology Clinics in Sana'a City-Yemen

“…A similar finding was reported which showed a non-significant association between HSV and abortion [30]. A study by Sisakis et al [32] mentioned that serological assays were not very useful for the elucidation of the role of HSV in inducing spontaneous abortions. Many studies mentioned that HSV-2 could be a risk factor in abortion; however, the detection of HSV-2 was in a small number comparing to the total studied women with history of abortion which does not support HSV infection as a major abortion-related factor.…”

Pathogenesis of herpes simplex virus type 2 experimental genital infection in pregnant mice

“…When the HSV‐2 genital infection occurs during pregnancy in women, several additional complications have been reported. Herpes antigens have been found by immunocytochemistry [2,3] and HSV DNA has been detected by PCR [4] in spontaneous and therapeutic abortions. Also, when compared with an uninfected control population, a significant increase of spontaneous abortions was described in women with latent HSV‐2 genital infections (diagnosed by a microneutralization test) [5].…”

Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Patients With Ongoing Miscarriage Using Serological Tests and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

“…Since the etiology of HSV in spontaneous abortion is still not fully defined, patients with a positive real-time PCR result, high viral loads and negative serology are of clinical interest and for further research. The available studies show contradictory results about the etiological role of HSV in spontaneous abortion (13,(22)(23)(24); therefore, more research is needed. A limitation of the current study was that abortive tissues were not available to test the presence of HSV DNA, and that it was not a case-control study.…”