HUMAN HERPESVIRUSES 6 AND 7 IN SALIVARY-GLANDS AND SHEDDING IN SALIVAOF HEALTHY AND HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS

The presence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus 7 (H HV-7) was investigated by the polymerase chain reaction in saliva spec imens from healthy persons, donors affected by common cold or recurren t aphthous ulceration (RAU), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) po sitive patients, and in salivary gland biopsies. The sensitivity of th e technique made it possible to detect as few as 5-10 target molecules in 15 mu l of saliva. HHV-6 was present in 63% of salivary gland biop sies and in 3% of salivas from healthy persons. No significant differe nce in the presence of HHV-6 was detected in specimens from donors wit h common cold, RAU, or HIV-infected patients. HHV-7 was present in 75% of salivary glands and in 55% of salivas from healthy persons. HHV-7 was detected with similar frequency in salivas from donors with common cold or RAU. Salivas from HIV-infected patients harbored HHV-7 with h igher frequency (81%) and increased viral load. These results show tha t salivary glands are a site of persistent infection for both HHV-6 an d HHV-7. However, the two viruses seem to differ in their biological p roperties: 1) HHV-6 is rarely present in saliva in detectable amounts, while HHV-7 is frequently detected; and 2) immunosuppression by acqui red immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) increases the frequency of detect ion and the viral load of HHV-7, but does not have a significant effec t on HHV-6 shedding in saliva. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.