title: Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 6 in Andino Puneños (Argentina).
abstract: We carried out a seroepidemiological survey to define the prevalence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) infection in an aboriginal population (Andino Puneños) from a remote region in north-west Argentina. Antibodies against HHV6 (total IgG and the 4 subclasses of IgG) were studied in 84 serum samples (collected in 1995 and stored at -70 degrees C), using core blood mononuclear cells infected with HHV6 in an immunofluorescence assay. Of the 84 samples, 70 (83%; 95% confidence interval, 75-91%) exhibited IgG antibodies against HHV6. No significant differences in the frequency of humoral immunity were found among the 4 age-groups studied (mean ages 13, 31, 47 and 70 years) namely, 75%, 89.7%, 79.2% and 100%, respectively. HHV6-specific IgG1 was found in all the positive serum samples tested but none of them contained specific IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4. These results confirmed a high rate of infection with HHV6 within this aboriginal group in Argentina and an IgG1 anti-HHV6 activity compatible with a maintenance of immunity.
authors.affiliation: Immunobiology Department, CEQUIMAP, School of Chemistry, National University of Cordoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Nates
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G