title: Ethnic differences in polyomavirus simian virus 40 seroprevalence among women in Houston, Texas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence and distribution among racial/ethnic groups of polyomavirus SV40 antibodies in women in Houston, Texas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women in three different cohorts reflecting the evolving demographics of Houston were evaluated for frequency of SV40 antibodies using a plaque-reduction neutralization assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women in cohort A (enrolled 1972-1973) were 68% (145/212) African-American and 32% Caucasian; the overall frequency of SV40 neutralizing antibodies was 7%. Women in cohort B (enrolled 1975-1977) were Caucasian with an overall frequency of SV40 neutralizing antibodies of 18% (37/211). Women in cohort C (enrolled 1993-1995) were 50% (199/400) African-American, 25% Caucasian, and 25% Hispanic; the overall frequency of SV40 neutralizing antibodies was 10%. Logistic regression analysis for cohort A showed no difference in SV40 neutralizing antibodies with respect to race/ethnicity, pregnancy status, number of previous pregnancies, or history of sexually transmitted diseases. For cohort C, race/ethnicity was identified as a significant factor associated with SV40 neutralizing antibodies, with Hispanics having a seroprevalence of 23% compared to 5-6% in the other two groups (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significantly higher SV40 seroprevalence was found among Hispanics than other racial/ethnic groups in the city of Houston. Findings are compatible with a model that certain population groups potentially exposed to SV40-contaminated oral poliovaccines have maintained cycles of SV40 infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Regis A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vilchez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quiroz
authors.forename: Ervin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Butel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral