Prevalence and Genotyping of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Among the Patients with Keratoconjunctivitis in Andaman Islands, India

Abstract

Background: Various microbes and allergens are responsible to cause keratoconjunctivitis. But the viral agents are mostly associated with this ocular illness. Adenovirus, Herpes simplex virus (HSV), and enterovirus are the main causative agents. Among those, HSV is of great concern as it can lead to encephalitis.
Aim: To determine the prevalence and know the circulating genotype of Herpes Virus among the population of Andaman Island.
Methods: Conjunctival swabs from 470 Keratoconjunctivitis suspects were collected (August 2017-January 2022). Diagnosis of HSV-1 and HSV-2 carried out by PCR.
Result: Positives were typed with Sanger’s Sequencing and sequences analyzed with MEGA software. 20 patients found positive for HSV-1 and typing revealed HSV Strain circulating in Andaman Islands was of AES origin.
Conclusion This is first report on Ocular HSV prevalence and strain connected to AES origin in Andaman Islands. To prevent encephalitis epidemics in Andaman population, HSV screening for cases is needed.