Correlation of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 with Clinical Features of Infection

Abstract

Strains (338) of herpes simplex virus (HSV) were isolated in Stockholm during 1965–1974. By immunoelectroosmophoresis it was possible to identify all strains as either HSV type 1 (HSV-l) or 2 (HSV-2). No strains of intermediate antigenic type or with untypable characteristics were found. The antigenic type of HSV was correlated with body site and clinical features of infection. A case of severe, recurrent, abdominal pain in association with HSV-2 infection is described. In one patient with acute aseptic meningitis, both coxsackievirus A9 and HSV-2 were isolated from the same specimen of cerebrospinal fluid. Serology suggested a primary infection with coxsackievirus A9 and a recurrent HSV-2 infection. HSV-I was isolated from specimens of cerebrospinal fluid from two of four adults with HSV encephalitis.