Detection of varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus by the polymerase chain reaction with degenerate primers

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) are human patho gens of significance involved in multiple diseases with either typical or a typical clinical features. In neonates and immunocompromised patients these alphaherpesviruses may cause life-threatening diseases such as encephaliti s. Detection of VZV by virus culture is difficult. Polymerase chain reactio n (PCR) is quicker and more sensitive and applicable in most clinical micro biological laboratories. Using degenerate primers, glycoprotein B (gB) DNA was amplified from all alphaherpesvirus field strains present in clinical s amples. The amplification of gB allowed virus typing of VZV, HSV-1 and HSV- 2 using restriction enzyme digestion of the PCR products. Degenerate primer s can replace conventional primers in diagnostic PCR without loss of sensit ivity and specificity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.