Herpes simplex virus type 2 infections of the central nervous system: A retrospective study of 49 patients.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are rare with meningitis as the most common clinical presentation. We have investigated the clinical spectrum of CNS infections in 49 adult consecutive patients with HSV-2 genome in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). HSV-2 in the CSF was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and patients were diagnosed as encephalitis or meningitis according to predefined clinical criteria by retrospective data information from consecutive clinical journals.

Varicella zoster in Guinea-Bissau: intensity of exposure and severity of infection.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of and risk factors for severe chickenpox in Guinea- Bissau.

Methods: A prospective household study in a semiurban area of the capital. Severity was assessed by number of pox, fever response and presence of pneumonia.

T-lymphocyte subsets and eosinophil counts in acute and convalescence chickenpox infection: a household study in Guinea-Bissau.

Objective: To investigate changes in T-lymphocyte subsets, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, WBC, lymphocytes and eosinophil granulocytes during the acute and the convalescence phase of chickenpox infection.

Methods: During an epidemic of chickenpox, a household study was performed in a semi-urban area of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Varicella antibodies were determined to assess diagnostic certainty.

An international external quality assessment of nucleic acid amplification of herpes simplex virus.

Background: There is an increasing awareness of the need for external quality control of diagnostic virology.

Objectives: To assess the quality of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAT) of herpes simplex within Europe.

Study Design: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) proficiency panels were produced at the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control on behalf of the European Union Concerted Action for Quality Control of Nucleic Acid Amplification in 1999 and 2000.

A mu-capture immunoassay for detection of human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) IgM antibodies in human serum.

Background: Human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) was first isolated in 1986. It has been shown to cause exanthema subitum and has been associated with various other diseases. HHV-6 infection is widespread, and more than 90% of the population have antibodies against HHV-6 at the age of 2 years.