Detection of herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA in bilateral human trigeminal ganglia and optic nerves by polymerase chain reaction

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) DNA was extracted from human trigeminal ganglia of 121 cadavers aged between 3 months and 94 years, and its PCR amplification was performed for the RL2 HSV‐1 sequence using two pairs of primers. The HSV‐1 DNA was detected in 74 of 121 patients (61%); 70/74 bilaterally, 3/74 only on the left side, and 1/74 only on the right side. Although the PCR‐positive rate was significantly higher in advanced age, the correlation between the PCR‐positive rate and gender was unclear. Additionally, HSV‐1 DNA was not detected in any of the 50 optic nerve samples. J. Med. Virol. 78:1584–1587, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.