Concurrent reactivation of herpes simplex and varicella zoster viruses confirmed by the loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay

Tsukane Kobayashi; Akiko Yagami; Kayoko Suzuki; Tetsushi Yoshikawa; Kayoko Matsunaga

doi:10.1159/000358005

Concurrent reactivation of herpes simplex and varicella zoster viruses confirmed by the loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay

Case Rep Dermatol. 2014 Jan 8;6(1):5-9. doi: 10.1159/000358005. eCollection 2014 Jan.

Authors

Tsukane Kobayashi¹, Akiko Yagami¹, Kayoko Suzuki², Tetsushi Yoshikawa³, Kayoko Matsunaga¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan.
² Department of Dermatology, Kariya Toyota General Hospital, Kariya, Japan.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan.

Abstract

Concurrent reactivation of herpes simplex and varicella zoster viruses is rare. Here, we describe the case of an elderly patient with herpes labialis and herpes zoster manifesting as a right-side facial eruption with vesicles and crusting. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay demonstrated the presence of both herpes simplex virus type 1 and varicella zoster virus in swab samples taken from the face, which was confirmed by real-time PCR, suggesting concurrent reactivation of both viruses. The use of the LAMP assay in the present case indicates its usefulness in the diagnosis of atypical herpes infections.

Keywords: Concurrent reactivation; Herpes simplex; Herpes simplex virus; Herpes zoster; Loop-mediated isothermal amplification; Varicella zoster virus.

Publication types

Case Reports