Diagnosis of herpes simplex virus-1 keratitis: comparison of Giemsa stain, immunofluorescence assay and polymerase chain reaction.

Purpose: To evaluate three different diagnostic tests against the gold standard of viral isolation, in the diagnosis of HSV-1 keratitis.

Methods: Corneal scrapings from 170 patients with clinically suspected HSV keratitis were tested by; 1) Giemsa staining procedure for the presence of multinucleated giant cells and lymphocytes, 2) immunofluorescence assay for HSV-1 antigen, 3) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HSV-1 DNA and 4) virus isolation by shell vial culture in SIRC (Rabbit corneal epithelial cell line). The results of the former three tests were compared among 14 cases that were culture positive and 156 cases that were culture negative for HSV-1.

Herpes simplex virus-1--associated congenital cataract.

Purpose: To report association of herpes simplex virus-type 1 (HSV-1) in four cases of congenital cataract.

Design: Prospective interventional case series.

Methods: Four infants younger than 12 months, presenting with unilateral or bilateral congenital cataract, were included.