HSV1&2 VZV R-GENE^®HSV1 HSV2 R-GENE^®VZV R-GENE^®

Fast facts on HSV-1, HSV-2 and VZV

What are HSV-1, HSV-2 and VZV?

There are eight human Herpesviridae, of which Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) are the most common in immunocompetent patients. The primary infection of HSV-1 and HSV-2 and VZV is generally limited to the mucous membranes and the skin. Usually benign, the infections linked with these viruses can nevertheless develop into severe clinical forms such as encephalitis, meningitis, retinitis and neonatal infections. After primary infection, the viruses persist in the host in a latent state. However, when assisted by chronic or transient immunosuppression, they can be reactivated, causing recurrent infections. In these severe and often atypical infections, the implicated virus cannot be identified. For many years various antivirals have proven their worth in efficiently treating these pathologies if prescribed early and at appropriate doses.

Who is most at risk?

Both immunocompetent and immunodepressed people can be affected by these viruses. Among the severe forms of HSV-1, HSV-2 or VZV infections in adults, HSV-1-induced encephalitis – of which there are 1/250,000 to 1/1,000,000 cases per year – can still be fatal if untreated. Encephalitis caused by HSV-2 or VZV usually has a more favorable prognosis. However, neonatal encephalitis can be traced to both HSV-1 and HSV-2 viruses, but the HSV-2 virus is responsible for the most serious neurological disorders. VZV virus has long been associated with encephalitis in immunodepressed patients. More recently, viral genome detection techniques have also increasingly shown VZV in meningo-encephalitis type infections in immunocompetent subjects.

What are the benefits of HSV-1, HSV-2 and VZV testing?

Conventional immunological culture and detection techniques are suitable for diagnosing the benign skin infections for which these viruses are responsible. However, they are unsuitable for severe infections of the central nervous system (CNS) and congenital infections. In severe infections, it is essential to obtain an early and rapid diagnosis of the infection. Quantitative HSV-1, HSV-2 and VZV DNA PCR tests are the ideal tool for CNS specimens and to follow congenital infections. Real-Time quantitative PCR-based assays for HSV-1, HSV-2 and VZV can be used to detect the presence of the virus and keep track of the course of the infections by monitoring the effectiveness of active treatment and for relapse after treatment.

Publications

Evaluation of the new HSV1&2 VZV R-GENE^® kit for HSV1, HSV2 and VZV load measurement.
M. Solis, H. Khiri, A. Beby-Defaux, F.Gallais,D. Boutolleau, S. Fafi-Kremer
ESCV 2019

Evaluation of the new HSV1&2 VZV R-GENE^® and the CELL control R-GENE^® kits for the quantification of herpes simplex virus 1 genome in broncho-alveolar lavage from patients with bronchopneumonitis
D. Boutolleau, M. Boivin, C. le Clec’h, I. Hourcq, S. Burrel
ESCV 2019

Comparative evaluation of the new HSV1&2 VZV R-GENE^® and a real-time PCR laboratory-developed tests for the detection and quantification of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) genome in clinical samples
D. Boutolleau, M. Boivin, C. le Clec’h, I. Hourcq, S. Burrel
ESCV 2019

Evaluation of the analytical performance of the new HSV1&2 VZV R-GENE^® kit – results on HSV1 and HSV2
M. Bertrand, M. Bonabaud, M. Dube, P. Marechal, M. Muntaner, C. Vidal, A. Derome, F. Gelas, M. Joannes
ESCV 2019