title: Herpesvirus hominis antibodies among children and young adults in Ibadan.
abstract: A total of 422 sera collected from children and young adults living in Ibadan, Nigeria, has been examined for the presence of antibodies to type 1 and type 2 herpesvirus hominis. Type 1 antibodies were rapidly acquired from the age of 1 year onwards, reflecting the relatively poor living standards and the overcrowded accommodation among the population studied. Type 2 antibodies were acquired between the ages of 3 and 5 years. It is suggested that non-venereal spread of the virus must be responsible; prolonged survival of the virus on fomites, owing to the high environmental humidity, possibly accounts for this.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral