T he most common sites of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection are around the oral cavity and the genitalia. However, HSV can infect any skin or mucous membrane surface, in addition to the eyes, central nervous system and viscera. HSV skin infections are preceded by a break in the integrity of the skin, as occurs in the well documented cases of herpetic whitlow and herpes gladiatorum. Transmission through intact skin probably does not occur (1-3). One uncommon site of HSV infection of the skin is the breast. Reports of herpetic breast infections are predominately cases of transmission from a systemically HSV-infected neonate to the mother during breastfeeding. A comprehensive review of the English literature identified only six reports suggesting HSV breast lesions acquired by means other than through an infected infant. Three The most common sites of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection are around the oral cavity and the genitalia. However, HSV can infect any skin or mucous membrane surface. One uncommon site of HSV infection is the breast. Reports of herpetic breast infections are predominantly cases of transmission from a systemically HSVinfected neonate to the mother during breast-feeding. A review of the literature identified only six reports suggesting HSV breast lesions acquired by means other than through an infected infant. Of these, only one report suggests HSV transmission to the breast from a male sexual partner. A second case of clinically unsuspected symptomatic herpes mastitis presumably acquired from sexual contact in a 46-year-old woman is presented. Herpes simplex type 1 was isolated by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymerization techniques. The purpose of this report is to alert physicians to HSV mastitis. CASE REPORT Key Words: Breast infection, Herpes simplex virus, Polymerase chain reaction, Restriction fragment length polymerizationMastite herpétique : rapport de cas et survol de la littérature RÉSUMÉ : Les sièges les plus fréquents de l'infection à herpes simplex sont le pourtour de la bouche et les organes géni-taux. Or, le HSV peut infecter toute surface muqueuse ou cutanée. L'un des sièges moins fréquents de l'infection par HSV est le sein. Les rapports d'infections mammaires herpétiques concernent surtout des cas de contamination de la mère par un nouveau-né souffrant d'une infection au HSV systémique lors de l'allaitement. Un survol de la littérature n'a permis d'identifier que six rapports suggérant des lésions mammaires herpétiques acquises autrement que par le contact d'un nourrisson infecté. Parmi ces cas, un seul suggère la transmission du HSV au sein par un partenaire sexuel masculin. Un deuxième cas de mastite herpétique symptomatique non soupçonnée cliniquement et présumément acquise lors d'un contact sexuel est présenté ici chez une femme de 46 ans. L'herpes simplex de type I a été isolé à l'aide d'une technique d'amplification génique et de fragments de restriction. Le but de ce rapport est d'alerter les médecins au sujet de la mastite her...

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