title: Seroprevalence of anti-human herpes virus-6 IgG antibody in children of Bangkok, Thailand.
abstract: The prevalence of HHV-6 infection was surveyed by determining the presence of anti-human herpesvirus-6 IgG (Anti-HHV-6 IgG) using an ELISA method. Two hundred and ten sera collected from healthy Thai children aged between 0 to 12 years (mean +/- standard deviation = 3.35+/-3.33) indicated the prevalence of HHV-6 infection was 88.10% (185/210). Samples were classified into 7 groups, 30 samples each, according to their ages, ie, group 1: 0 - < 6 months; group 2: 6 - < 12 months; group 3: 12 - < 18 months; group 4; 18 - < 24 months; group 5: 2 - < 5 years; group 6: 5 - < 8 years and group 7: 8-12 years. The prevalence of HHV-6 infection was 63.33%, 70%, 96.67%, 93.33%, 100%, 100% and 93.33%, respectively. The mean level of anti-HHV-6 IgG among those positive for HHV-6 infection (185 samples) increased from 0 < 6 months old (17.47+/-6.32 units) to 27.57+/-8.42 units in 6 - < 12 months old, with the highest value found in the 18 - < 24 months old group (33.08+/-8.64 units). The level declined thereafter. A statistically significant difference of the mean level of anti-HHV-6 IgG among positive groups was found (p-value < 0.05). The important factor associated with HHV-6 infection was age (p = 0.002), while sex, socioeconomic status, number of children in the family and child rearing place did not show any association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. parvapan@chula.ac.th
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhattarakosol
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pancharoen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mekmullica
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhattarakosol
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G