title: High prevalence of HHV-6 DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy individuals detected by nested-PCR.
abstract: The aim of the study was the evaluation of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection rate and semiquantification of viremia in healthy people. Healthy blood donors were studied. Human herpesvirus-6 IgG and IgM antibody titers were measured by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Human herpesvirus-6 DNA amplification (nested-PCR) was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and in serum. Seventeen of 50 (34 percent) individuals were positive for IgG anti-HHV-6 and the titers ranged from 1:40 to 1:160. None of 30 individuals was positive for IgM anti-HHV-6, suggesting no recent infection nor reactivation. Human herpesvirus-6 DNA was detected by nested-PCR amplification in peripheral blood mononuclear cells but not in sera. When 1 microgram DNA was amplified, HHV-6 DNA was detected in 8 of 20 individual (40%), but in 18 of 20 (90%) when 5 micrograms DNA were amplified. It is concluded that HHV-6 is present in a high proportion of the healthy population but in minimal amounts, and although it can be detected in 1.4 x 10(5) PBMC, 7 x 10(5) cells are necessary to detect most cases. No reactivation was observed in healthy people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinic, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Cuende
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Civeira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prieto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G