title: Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 6 and 7 infections in the Thai population.
abstract: Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and 7 (HHV-7) was estimated in the Thai population using indirect immunofluorescence assay to determine serum antibodies to HHV-6 and HHV-7. A total of 333 serum samples obtained from umbilical cord blood and venous blood of healthy persons at Siriraj Hospital and Krabi Hospital during 1990-1993 were investigated. Of 73 infants aged 0-1 month, 73% and 78% were found tob e positive for HHV-6 and HHV-7 antibodies, respectively. Antibody to HHV-6 was detected in age groups 2-3 months (38%), 4-5 months (14%), 6 months (44%), 7-11 months (66%), 1-2 year (84%), 3-4 years (82%), 5-9 years (83%), 10-19 years (83%), 20-29 years (80%), 30-39 years (67%), and over 40 years (58%), respectively. This positive rates of HHV-7 antibody in age groups 2-3 months, 4-5 months, 6 months, 7-11 months, 1-2 years, 3-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-19 years, 21-29 years, 30-39 years, and over 40 years were 50%, 21%, 10%, 37%, 47%, 82%, 75%, 72%, 72%, 67%, and 67%, respectively. At 6 months of age as the starting time of infections, 34% (14/41) and 9% (3/41) of infants had presumed primary infections of HHV-6 and HHV-7, respectively. In the follow-up study, 53% (20/38) of children were infected with HHV-6 prior to HHV-7 and only 5% vice versa. Eighty-four percent of children had acquired antibody to HHV-6 by 1-2 years old while 82% of children had acquired antibody to HHV-7 by 3-4 years old. These results suggest that HHV-6 and HHV-7 are prevalent viruses in the Thai population. The infections of both viruses begin at 6 months of age. However, infection of HHV-7 in most children begins later. The data also provided evidence that antigenic distinction between HHV-6 and HHV-7 existed with a limited cross-reactivity in an antibody test. The antibody responses to HHV-6 and HHV-7 occurred independently.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kositanont
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wasi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ekpatcha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poomchart
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Likanonsakul
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suphanip
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balachandra
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamanishi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral