Development and evaluation of topical formulations that contain hydroethanolic extract from Schinus terebinthifolia against HSV-1 infection

Abstract The therapeutic drugs to treat Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections have toxic side effects and there has been an emergence of drug-resistant strains. Therefore, the search for new treatments for HSV infections is mounting. In the present study, semi-solid formulations containing a crude hydroethanolic extract (CHE) from Schinus terebinthifolia were developed. Skin irritation, cutaneous permeation, and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of the formulations were investigated. Treatment with the ointment formulations did not result in any signs of skin irritation while the emulsions increased the thickness of the epidermis in Swiss mice. The cutaneous permeation test indicated that the CHE incorporated in the formulations permeated through the skin layers and was present in the epidermis and dermis even 3 h after topical application. In vivo antiviral activity in BALB/c mice treated with the CHE ointments was better than those treated with the CHE emulsions and did not significantly differ from an acyclovir-treated group. Taken together, this suggests that the incorporation of CHE in the ointment may be a potential candidate for the alternative topical treatment of herpetic lesions.

Herpes simplex virus encephalitis in Peru: a multicentre prospective study.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is one of the most commonly identified infectious aetiologies of encephalitis in North America and Europe. The epidemiology of encephalitis beyond these regions, however, is poorly defined. During 2009-2012 we enrolled 313 patients in a multicentre prospective study of encephalitis in Peru, 45 (14·4%) of whom had confirmed HSV infection. Of 38 patients with known HSV type, 84% had HSV-1 and 16% had HSV-2. Patients with HSV infection were significantly more likely to present in the summer months (44·4% vs. 20·0%, P = 0·003) and have nausea (60·0% vs. 39·8%, P = 0·01) and rash (15·6% vs. 5·3%, P = 0·01) compared to patients without HSV infection. These findings highlight differences in the epidemiology and clinical presentation of HSV encephalitis outside of the Northern Hemisphere that warrant further investigation. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for improved HSV diagnostic capacity and availability of intravenous acyclovir in Peru.

[Combined activity of meliacin and foscarnet against different strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 using a three-dimensional model]. / Estudio de la acción combinada de meliacina y foscarnet contra distintas cepas del virus herpes simplex tipo 1 empleando un modelo tridimensional.

We evaluated the in vitro antiviral activity of meliacin combined with foscarnet on the herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) strains F and B2006 (tk-) replication. The effective concentrations for 50% inhibition of HSV-1 (F) were 12.5 micrograms/ml for meliacin and 15.7 micrograms/ml for foscarnet, while for HSV-1 (B2006) were 3.1 micrograms/ml and 126 micrograms/ml, respectively. The data were analyzed for quantitation of synergism, additivity, and antagonism of multiple drug effect by the three-dimensional model. Some of the meliacin -foscarnet combinations synergistically inhibited HSV-1 (F) and HSV-1 (B2006) replication in vitro at concentrations that did not reduce cellular viability.

Herpes simples genital, uma doença sexualmente transmissível / Genital herpes simplex, a sexually transmitted disease

Na avaliaçäo da transmissibilidade sexual dos herpes simples genital, foi estudada a prevalência de anticorpos específicos contra o herpes simples vírus do tipo 2 (HSV-2), em populaçöes de baixo e de alto risco para doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DST). A populaçäo de baixo risco para a aquisiçäo das DST foi constituída por 155 doadores voluntários de sangue no HUCFF/UFRJ, entre fevereiro e junho de 1994. Todos foram submetidos a um questionário acerca dos fatores de risco para a aquisiçäo das DST e que traçou o perfil sócio-epidemiológico desta populaçäo. Os pacientes de alto risco para a aquisiçäo das DST incluíram 85 portadores do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV), tendo como fatores de risco o homossexualismo, a promiscuidade heterossexual ou contato sexual com o parceiro soropositivo para o HIV. Foram avaliadas, sorologicamente, 20 prostitutas, entre maio e julho de 1994. O teste usado para a análise de todas as amostras de soro, provenientes dos pacientes, foi o ELISA convencional específico para a detecçäo de IgG anti-HSV-2. Para os doadores de sangue, a prevalência do HSV-2 foi de 53,8 por cento, superior à observada em países ocidentais desenvolvidos. Entre os pacientes HIV positivos, ela atingiu 73 por cento (p<0,01). Para todo o grupo de alto risco para a aquisiçäo das doenças sexualmente transmissíveis atingiu 72 por cento de prevalência (p<0,05, razäo de chance = 6,27). As variáveis que mais se associaram à soroprevalência do HSV-2 foram a multiplicidade de parceiros sexuais, relaçöes sexuais com portador de herpes genital, história prévia de abortos e de relaçöes homossexuais. Os nossos achados permitem sugerir a realizaçäo de estudos adicionais de soroprevalência em nosso meio, especialmente entre os pacientes HIV positivos. Os pacientes soropositivos para o HSV-2 devem ser orientados quanto aos mecanismos de transmissäo do vírus

Identidad genómica entre virus herpes simplex aislados de lesiones glúteas y genitales / Genomic identity among herpes simplex virus isolated from buttock and genital injuries

El herpes glúteo es originado por el HSV-2 en más del 70 por ciento de los casos y un 58 por ciento de los pacientes refiere antecedentes de herpes genital. Con el fin de investigar la existencia de identidad genómica entre los HSV aislados de lesiones glúteas y genitales, se estudiaron 21 HSV: 9 obtenidos de lesiones glúteas; 8 de lesiones genitales y 4 de secreción vaginal. Estos aislados provenían de 5 pacientes portadores de herpes glúteo y genital. El estudio se realizó mediante aislamiento viral, tipificación con anticuerpos monoclonales y análisis genómico con enzimas de restricción. Se demostró que, 18 aislados correspondían a HSV-2 y 3 a HSV-1. El estudio con enzimas de restricción corroboró los resultados obtenidos con anticuerpos monoclonales y permitió definir la existencia de 4 tipos de patrón HSV-2 y dos de HSV-1. Se estableció la existencia de doble infección herpética en dos de las pacientes analizadas. Los pérfiles de los genomas virales obtenidos de aislados glúteos se correspondieron en forma idéntica con el de los aislados genitales y de secreción vaginal en cada una de las pacientes estudiadas. Los resultados anteriores nos permiten confirmar la hipótesis que lesiones herpéticas genitales y glúteas pueden ser originadas por la misma cepa viral y tener un origen de infección común

Genital herpes in Jamaica: a clinical and pathological study 1982-1984

Five hundred and four patients with suspected genital simplex virus (HSV) infection were investigated in Jamica between 1982 and 1984. Of these, 100 (1908%) were virologically confirmed. There were 12 patients with primary/first episode, 45 recurrente and 6 "provoked" type of genital herpes simplex virus infections. Genital herpes in women was more severe than in men. Eighty-eight per cent of genital herpes was confirmed by virus isolation. Forty HSF isolates were identified as HSV type 2. There was seroresponse in 75% primary, 18% recurrent and 17% provoked type of genital herpes. Virus isolation is the most sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection. The measuremem of serum anti herpes simplex complement-fixing antibodies was not useful in the diagnosis of suspected patients with genital ulcers and their contacts. The infectiousness of the virus, clinical manifestations, complications such as neonatal herpes infections, psychosocial problems and methods of prevention are issues that clinicians should discuss with patients with genital herpes

Genital herpes in Jamaica: a clinical and pathological study (1982-1984)

Five hundred and four patients with suspected genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection were investigated in Jamaica between 1982 and 1984. Of these, 100 (19.8 percent) were virologically confirmed. There were 12 patients with primary/first episode, 45 recurrent and 6 "provoked' type of genital herpes simplex virus infections. Genital herpes in women was more severe than in men. Eighty-eight per cent of genital herpes was confirmed by virus isolation. Forty HSV isolates were identified as HSV type 2. There was a sero-response in 75 percent primary, 18 percent recurrent and 17 percent provoked type of genital herpes. Virus isolation is the most sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection. The measurement of serum anti herpes simplex complement-fixing antibodies was not useful in the diagnosis of suspected patients with genital ulcers and their contacts. The infectiousness of the virus, clinical manifestations, complications such as neonatal herpes infections, psychosocial problems and methods of prevention are issues that clinicians should discuss with patients with genital herpes (AU)

Influenza virus infections in Jamaica between 1977 and 1985

Data on influenza virus infections between 1977 and 1985 in Jamaica are presented. The occurrence of influenza varied each year. The peak incidence correlated generally with the peak occurrence of acute respiratory illness each year. The influenza-associated neurological (17 percent) and cardiac (9.7 percent) manifestations were seen during the period of study. Antigenic variants of influenza viruses circulating in Jamaica were similar to those recorded world-wide. Continuous virological and non-virological surveillance are vital in determining the impact of influenza on associated mortality and morbidity in a developing country like Jamaica. (AU)

Chromatographic separation of herpes simplex virus

Experiments were designed to differentiate between isolates of herpes simplex virus (HSV) that are the aetiological agents of human encephalitis (neurotropic HSV) and those that were originally isolated from non-encephalitic cases (non-nueroropic HSV). Results showed that the nuerotopic HSV studied could be eluted from DEAE-cellulose columns with potassium phosphate buffer of ionic strength 0.1M or 0.15M at pH 7.0 as dertermined by mouse patogenicity and cytopathic effects. On the contrary, the eluates of the non-neurotropic HSV showed no viral patogenicity or cytopathic effects under similar conditions. Column chromatography and analysis of eluants for viral pathogenicity is a simple method for recognizing differences between neurotropic and non-neurotropic HSV. Taxonomically, this work raises the question as to whether or not HSV should be sub-classified into types designating their neuropathogenicity (AU)