Frequent isolation of HHV-6 from saliva and high seroprevalence of the virus in the population.
Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) was recovered at high frequency (greater than 85%) from the saliva of both healthy individuals and those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The level of isolation mirrored the high prevalence of antibodies to HHV-6 found in sera obtained from residents of diverse areas of the world. Seroconversion occurred between 1 and 3 years of age; seroprevalence ranged between 80% and 100% among adults under 40 and decreased to 35% between ages 62 and 88. Serum titres in healthy individuals remained stable during periods of virus shedding. Immune cellular dysfunction in patients was associated with high geometric mean HHV-6 antibody titres. These observations suggest that HHV-6 infection takes place within the first 3 years of life, and strongly implicate oral shedding as a common means of transmission of this newly described herpesvirus.
Levy
J A
JA
Department of Medicine, University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143.
Ferro
F
F
Greenspan
D
D
Lennette
E T
ET
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral