Oral shedding of human herpesviruses in renal transplant recipients

Clin Oral Investig. 2018 Mar;22(2):885-891. doi: 10.1007/s00784-017-2166-3. Epub 2017 Jul 1.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the shedding profile of human herpesviruses in the saliva of renal transplant recipients.

Methods: This is a prospective case-control study of 50 renal transplant recipients and control group of 50 individuals (non-transplanted and immunocompetent). Mouthwash samples were collected via oral rinse and then submitted to screening for the presence of eight types of herpesviruses by using multiplex PCR. Fisher's exact, chi-square, and Student t tests were used for statistical analysis, and the significance level was set at 5%.

Results: The mean age of the study group was 49.42 ± 12.94 years, 28/50 (56%) were female, and the time elapsed after transplantation was 68.20 ± 67.19 months. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) (P = 0.025) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (P = 0.024) were, statistically, more excreted in the saliva of renal transplant recipients compared to control group. Gender (P = 1.00) and age (P = 0.563) did not influence the salivary shedding of herpesviruses in renal transplant recipients. Individuals who excreted varicella-zoster virus in saliva had a shorter mean time of transplantation (22:00 + 2.82 months) (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Renal transplant recipients excreted herpesviruses more often than controls, especially HSV-1 and EBV, with salivary shedding of herpesviruses being more frequent in patients with recent kidney transplantation.

Clinical relevance: The present findings support other longitudinal studies evaluating the relationship between oral shedding of human herpesviruses and clinical presence of active infection and renal transplant failure.

Keywords: Human herpesviruses; Kidney transplantation; Oral shedding; Saliva.

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Herpesviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prospective Studies
  • Saliva / virology*
  • Virus Shedding*