Clinical Ophthalmology (Mar 2022)
Absence of Herpesvirus DNA in Aqueous Humor from Asymptomatic Subjects
Abstract
Joanna von Hofsten,1,2 Tomas Bergström,3 Madeleine Zetterberg1,4 1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Halland Hospital Halmstad, Halmstad, SE- 301 85, Sweden; 3Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE-413 46, Sweden; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, SE-431 30, SwedenCorrespondence: Joanna von Hofsten, Department of Ophthalmology, Halland Hospital Halmstad, Lasarettsvägen, Halmstad, S-301 85, Sweden, Fax +4635158205, Email [email protected]: To assess herpesvirus DNA detection in aqueous humor from a cohort of asymptomatic Scandinavian patients undergoing elective cataract surgery.Patients and Methods: Prospective case series. Aqueous samples were obtained from 30 patients undergoing elective cataract surgery. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV) was performed. Toxoplasma was added to the analysis due to its role as pathogen with ocular latency.Results: Mean age of participants was 75.3 years. Sixteen subjects (53%) had ocular comorbidities. Five subjects (17%) had endothelial dysfunction without known hereditary pattern. None of the samples were positive for herpesviruses or toxoplasma.Conclusion: None of the aqueous samples were positive, suggesting shedding does not frequently occur in the aqueous humor of asymptomatic patients.Keywords: shedding, aqueous humor, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus
