Herpes virus infections

Clinical information

The family of herpesviruses encompasses more than 100 different virus types, eight of which can cause infections in humans. These so-called human herpesviruses encompass herpes simplex virus of type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesviruses 6 and 7 (HHV-6 and -7) as well as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), which is associated with Kaposi sarcoma. Despite great structural similarities of the different pathogens, herpesvirus infection can cause very different diseases, e.g. cold sores or genital herpes, chickenpox, shingles, kissing disease or different cancers. During pregnancy, especially primary infection with particular herpesviruses may lead to severe damage or even loss of the child. There is currently only a vaccine against VZV. After primary infection, which often proceeds asymptomatically, herpesviruses persist life-long in the body in a latent state and may become reactivated at a later time point, e.g. due to a weakened immune system, and (again) cause symptoms.

Diagnostics

Laboratory diagnostics of herpesviruses is based on direct or indirect detection methods. Direct methods, which are especially relevant for diagnostics of acute infections or in immunosuppressed persons include, e.g. virus culture or PCR-based tests, in which viral nucleic acids are detected. Blister liquid, skin or mucosal smears, blood, CSF or broncoalveolar lavage fluid is used as sample material. If the herpesvirus specific antibody is detected in patient serum, plasma or CSF, this is considered as indirect pathogen detection. The antibody detection not only allows conclusions to be drawn on which virus is present in the patient, but can also contribute to the differentiation of primary and recurrent infections. EUROIMMUN offers a broad spectrum of products for the detection of herpesvirus infections, including both antibody detection and direct detection methods.