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Human dorsal root ganglia from 14 randomly autopsied adults and 1 infant (all seropositive for both herpes simplex virus[HSV]and varicella zoster virus[VZV])were examined for latent HSV-1 and VZV DNA by polymerase chain reaction.Thoracic ganglionic DNA from all subjects and trigeminal ganglionic DNA from 11 adults were analyzed.HSV-1 DNA was detected in trigeminal ganglia from 8 of 11(73%)adults and in thoracic ganglia from 2 of 14(14%)adults.VZV DNA was detected in trigeminal ganglia from 10 of 11 (91%)adults and in thoracic ganglia from 12 of 14(86%)adults.None of the DNA samples were positive with primers specific for HSV-2.These findings indicate the presence of latent HSV-1 and VZV DNA in trigeminal ganglia and latent VZV DNA in thoracic ganglia of most seropositive adults. Furthermore,although HSV-1 latency most commonly develops in trigeminal ganglia,we also show for the first time the presence of HSV-1 latency in thoracic ganglia.Finally,both viruses can become latent in the same trigeminal ganglion. |
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