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. 1996 Apr;34(4):877–881. doi: 10.1128/jcm.34.4.877-881.1996

Coinfection with human herpesvirus 6 variants A and B in lung tissue.

R W Cone 1, M L Huang 1, R C Hackman 1, L Corey 1
PMCID: PMC228909  PMID: 8815100

Abstract

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) variant B is frequently identified in peripheral blood, but identification of HHV-6 variant A is relatively rare. We devised a PCR-based method for sensitive, simultaneous detection of both HHV-6 variants. The method was applied to 34 lung tissue specimens that were previously shown to contain HHV-6 DNA. A total of 22 lung tissue samples showed coinfections with HHV-6 variants A and B, 2 had only HHV-6 variant A DNA, and 10 had only HHV-6 variant B DNA. The prevalences of coinfections in lung tissues from healthy controls (54% coinfected) and in those from bone marrow transplant patients with pneumonia (67% coinfected) were similar. These data indicate that coinfections of HHV-6 variants A and B commonly occur in lung tissues of healthy and diseased individuals.

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Selected References

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