The Use of Temperature Sensitivity and Selective Cell Culture Systems for Differentiation of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 in a Clinical Laboratory

Abstract

Summary A simple technique for differentiation of herpes simplex virus type 1 from type 2, using growth variations in tissue culture and temperature sensitivity is described. All HSV-2 isolates were capable of producing distinct microplaques in chick embryo cells while the newly isolated HSV-1 strains failed to do so. Newly isolated HSV-1 strains showed similar or slightly lower titers in rabbit kidney when incubated at 35 or 40°. In contrast, the HSV-2 isolates generally showed distinctly lower titers or delayed CPE at 40°. Virus typings by selective growth in cell culture and temperature markers were confirmed by neutralization and/or immunofluorescence tests. Since both types of HSV can be isolated from any site of the body, the availability of a simple laboratory technique for distinguishing between the two provides physicians and diagnostic virology laboratories with a means for rapid and accurate diagnosis of herpetic infections.