Diagnosing herpesvirus infections by real-time amplification and rapid culture

Procedures using real-time technique were developed to demonstrate the presence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2, varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in miscellaneous clinical specimens. The assays were compared to rapid culture using centrifugation followed by detection with monoclonal antibodies. A total of 711 consecutive samples were collected from different patient groups. Throat swabs were obtained from transplant patients; dermal or oral specimens were collected from patients suspected for VZV or HSV infection. Genital specimens were taken from patients who attended the Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases at the Dijkzigt Hospital Rotterdam presenting with symptoms of a primary genital ulcer. Nucleic acid extraction was carried out using a MagnaPure LC instrument. The amplification steps were performed on the ABI Prism 7700 sequence detection system. To monitor the process of extraction and amplification, a universal control consisting of seal herpesvirus type 1 (PhHV-1

Reactivity to human papillomavirus type 16 Ll virus-like particles in sera from patients with genital cancer and patients with carcinomas at five different extragenital sites

A retrospective seroepidemiologic study was performed to examine the association between human papillomaviruses (HPV) 16 infection and carcinomas of the oropharynx, the oesophagus, penis and vagina. Sera were selected from the serum bank from the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital (Netherlands Cancer Institute) and the Slotervaart Hospital in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Presence of HPV 16 specific antibody was assessed using HPV 16 L1 capsids. Sera positive for HPV 16 capsid antibody were further tested for antibody against HPV 16 E7 peptides. Prevalence of antibody against H PV 16 L1 capsids among both the negative control group without cancer and the negative control group with gastric cancer was 18%, while seroprevalence among the control group of patients with HPV-associated cervical squamous cell carcinoma was 47% (P < 0.001). Among the patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma seroprevalence was 38% (P < 0.001), among patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma 33% (P = 0.04) and among patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma 14% (P = 0.7). The serological evidence for association between HPV 16 infection and both oropharyngeal carcinoma and penile carcinoma was established. The conclusion that no association was found between the presence of antibody against HPV 16 L1 capsids and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma was in accordance with results of other studies carried out in the Netherlands using HPV DNA technology. In the subjects with HPV 16 L1 capsid antibody, no association was found between the antibody against HPV 16 E7 and clinical outcome

Acquisition and clearance of perianal human papillomavirus infection in relation to HIV-positivity in men who have sex with men in the Netherlands

This study was performed to establish the prevalence of perianal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in relation to HIV-positivity in a group of men who have sex with men (MSM), and to correlate follow-up data with regard to acquisition and clearance of HPV infection. Data with regard to HPV prevalence and HIV serostatus during two visits were compared. At both visits participants underwent a routine venereological examination and swabs were taken from the perianal region for HPV DNA testing. During both visits HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33 and 52 were significantly more often detected in HIV-positive individuals. Persistence of HPV type 31 at the perianal region was significantly more often seen in HIV-positive MSM (p=0.036) while the incidence of type 16 may be associated with HIV positivity (p=0.059). In HIV-positive MSM significantly more high-risk HPV types were detected at the perianal region

Cowpox Virus Transmission from Rats to Monkeys, the Netherlands

We report an outbreak of cowpox virus among monkeys at a sanctuary for exotic animals. Serologic analysis and polymerase chain reaction were performed on blood and swab samples from different rodent species trapped at the sanctuary during the outbreak. Sequence comparison and serologic results showed that brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) transmitted the virus to monkeys

Respiratory virus infections in febrile children presenting to a general practice out-of-hours service

Background: Fever is common in young children and is assumed to be frequently caused by viral infections. Objectives: To document respiratory viruses in children with fever presenting at a general practice out-of-hours service (OHS), evaluate presenting symptoms in febrile children with a virus infection, and examine the association between antibiotic prescription and the presence of a viral infection. Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained to detect respiratory viruses in non-hospitalized children aged >= three months to six years presenting with fever at an OHS. Symptoms were assessed using physical examinations and questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to reveal associations between symptoms or diagnoses, and the presence of at least one virus Results: In total 257 nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained in 306 eligible children; 53% of these children were infected by at least one virus. The most frequently detected viruses were adenovirus (10.9%), RSV type A (10.5%) and PIV type 1 (8.6%). Cough (OR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.4-4.6) and temperature >= 38.0 degrees C (OR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3-3.5) were independent predictors of the presence of a virus, but the discriminative ability was low (AUC 0.64; 95% CI: 0.58-0.71). Antibiotic prescription rate was 37.3%. In 57.4% of children with an antibiotic prescription, a virus was found. Conclusion: In over 50% of all febrile children presenting at an OHS, a virus was found. Antibiotic prescription rate was high and not associated to the outcome of viral testing