primate assay data sheet
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
Test code:
S0030 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2
(HSV-2) by real time polymerase chain reaction
Herpesviruses have been isolated from a wide variety of
mammalian and non-mammalian species. The eight human
herpesviruses, herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2),
varicella-zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human
cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human herpesviruses-6, -7 and -8
(HHV-6, -7 and -8), represent a significant public health
problem worldwide. These viruses have been further classified as
members of the alpha-herpesvirus (HSV-1, HSV-2 and VZV), the
beta-herpesvirus (CMV, HHV-6 and HHV-7) and the
gamma-herpesvirus subgroups (EBV and HHV-8). The virus-host
relationship is characterized by the benign nature of HSV
infection in its usual host, man, and by the fatal disease it
causes in accidental hosts, such as the owl monkey or gibbon.
Fatal infections caused by HSV have been documented in gibbons,
patas and colobus monkeys. A natural epizootic model of
Herpesvirus hominis is splenectomized gibbons, which clinically
mimic the disease as it occurs in man.
A recent
serological study to screen for these herpesviruses in gibbons
using antibodies for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes
simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and
cytomegalovirus (CMV) had shown that the prevalence of IgG
antibodies against HSV-1, HSV-2, EBV and CMV was 28.2%, 28.2%,
14.1% and 17.9%, respectively. Although cross-reactivities with
other monkey herpesviruses cannot be ruled out, the possibility
of direct transmission of these human herpesviruses exists. For
example, hand rearing of gibbon infants by zoo personnel would
provide ample opportunity for human herpesvirus transmission to
gibbons. Moreover, the exclusive HSV serotypes within species
suggests that these viral infections may have originated from a
common source within a species, with subsequent spread from
animal to animal, rather than from isolated human-to-gibbon
transmissions. Accordingly, HSV-2 infections have been observed
to spread from chimpanzee to chimpanzee.
Although
virus isolation can be used to diagnose HSV-2 virus infection
and determine carrier status, it is not very sensitive or
specific, and viral culture increases the potential risk of
laboratorians contacting this virus. Serological testing for
HSV-2 is difficult because of the close antigenic relation among
different herpesviruses.
HSV-2
detection by PCR is the most rapid, sensitive and specific
method for diagnosis of this infection and confirmation of
carrier status.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Help ensure that animal colonies are free of HSV-2
-
Early prevention of spread of this virus among a colony
-
Minimize personnel exposure to this virus
-
Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines
that derive from primates
Specimen requirement:
Lesion swab, or conjunctival swab, or 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA
(purple top) tube.
Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all
specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during
very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain
frozen in transit. See shipping
instructions for more information.
Turnaround time:
2 business days
Methodologies:
Qualitative real time PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected