title: IgG antibodies to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) in Italian people.
abstract: Sera from a sample of healthy Italian people were tested in an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for reactivity to a Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) strain called CV, isolated from a baby with exanthem subitum (Portolani et al., 1990). Seropositivity values of 83.78%, 92.68% and 63.64% were found in subjects aged 3 months-6 years, 6-18 years and over 18 years respectively. Sera from cordal blood, sera from subjects with evidence of active infection by Cytomegalovirus (CMV) or by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), sera from seropositive adults to Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV) were also investigated for antibodies to the same HHV-6 strain. Values of antibody incidence and antibody content to HHV-6 in these groups of sera were generally higher than in the other groups. HHV-6 reinfections of both endogenous and exogenous origin and antibody cross-reactivity were considered among the reasons of this increase. HHV-6 seropositivity values in healthy Italian people and in people from different countries were also discussed in the light of the antigenic characteristics of the HHV-6 strains used and of the different test conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cermelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietrosemoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pecorari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Portolani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G