Absence of Herpesvirus DNA in Aqueous Humor from Asymptomatic Subjects

Joanna von Hofsten; Tomas Bergström; Madeleine Zetterberg

doi:10.2147/OPTH.S358964

Absence of Herpesvirus DNA in Aqueous Humor from Asymptomatic Subjects

Clin Ophthalmol. 2022 Mar 30:16:959-962. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S358964. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Joanna von Hofsten^{1

2}, Tomas Bergström³, Madeleine Zetterberg^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden.
² Department of Ophthalmology, Halland Hospital Halmstad, Halmstad, SE- 301 85, Sweden.
³ Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE-413 46, Sweden.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, SE-431 30, Sweden.

Abstract

Purpose: 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: aqueous humor; herpes simplex virus; shedding; varicella zoster virus.