Efficacy of Polymerase Chain Reaction in Early Diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Keratitis in Rabbit Model.

Heo, Jae Yong; Kim, Su Jin; Shin, Eun Mi; Sah, Woo Jin; Hahn, Tae Won

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2001;42(1):137-144.
Published online January 1, 2001.

Efficacy of Polymerase Chain Reaction in Early Diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Keratitis in Rabbit Model.

Jae Yong Heo, Su Jin Kim, Eun Mi Shin, Woo Jin Sah, Tae Won Hahn

Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.

토끼모델에서 단순포진 각막염의 조기진단에 있어 DNA 중합효소 연쇄반응 ( PCR ) 검사의 유용성

한태원(Tae Won Hahn),허재용(Jae Yong Heo),김수진(Su Jin Kim),신은미(Eun Mi Shin),사우진(Woo Jin Sah)

Abstract

We evaluated the efficacy of polymerase chain reaction(PCR)in early diagnosis of herpes simplex keratitis(HSK)in rabbit model and compared the sensitivity and specificity of PCR in two kinds of primers. Only one eye of 8 rabbits was inoculated with HSV Type 1(F strain, ATCC VR-73)to induce HSK, and the other eye was used as control. Rabbit cornea was examined under slit lamp examination and PCR test of tear and corneal scraping specimens were performed at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10th post-inoculation day. The sensitivity of PCR with POL primer was 100%in tear and corneal scraping specimens. The sensitivity of PCR with POL primer and LAT primer were 80%and 100%respectively. PCR test is very useful diagnotic tool for the early diagnosis of HSK in rabbit model. In addition, PCR test with corneal scraping specimens provided better yield compared with tears.

Key Words: Herpes simplex keratitis(HSK);Polymerase chain reaction(PCR);Rabbit model