Abstract: Objective To detect and type herpes simplex virus (HSV) in genital lesions of the patients attending STD clinic. Methods Clinical data were collected and analyzed from patients with anogenital non-herpetic lesions including induration or furuncle, fissure, folliculitis, single ulcer and so on. HSV was detected and typed by culture and PCR with specimens taken from these lesions. Results One hundred and five cases were recruited in this study. Among them, 18 cases presented induration (furuncle), 15 fissure, 16 folliculitis, 7 abrasion, 12 single ulcer, 25 nonspecific erythema and 12 balanoposthitis with edema and exudation. HSV was found in 33.3%(6/18), 20%(3/15), 37.5%(6/16), 28.6%(2/7), 33.3%(4/12), 20%(5/25) and 50%(6/12) of these lesions, repectively, by PCR, while in 22.2%(4/18), 13.3%(2/15), 25%(4/16), 14.3%(1/7), 33.3%(4/12), 8%(2/25) and 41.7%(5/12), repectively, by viral culture. The positive rates of HSV from all these non-herpetic lesions were 30.5% (32/105) and 21% (22/105), respectively (κ=0.095, P=0.114), by PCR and viral culture. The results of HSV typing were consistent between PCR and immunofluorescence with type-specific monoclonal antibodies. Among those with HSV infections, HSV-1 infection acounted for 9.4% (3/32), and HSV-290.6% (29/32). Conclusions The clinical manifestations of genital HSV infections vary, and HSV could be isolated from lesions of induration (furuncle), fissure, folliculitis, abrasion, single ulcer, nonspecific erythema and balanoposthitis with edema and exudation. HSV-2 is the predominant type.

Key words: Herpes, genitalis, Herpes virus 1, human, Herpesvirus 2, human