Persistence of detectable immunoglobulin M antibodies up to 8 years after infection with West Nile virus.
In Houston, we have been monitoring the immune response to West Nile virus (WNV) infection in a large cohort of study participants since 2002. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques, serum from 163 participants was tested for the presence of anti-WNV immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies. We found that 42%, 34%, and 23% of study participants had either positive or equivocal results when tested for anti-WNV IgM antibodies approximately 1, 6, and 8 years post-infection, respectively. Conversely, almost one-half of study participants (46%) had undetectable anti-WNV IgG antibodies by 8 years post-infection. This study is the first study to calculate the slope of the rate of decay of antibodies over time as well as show persistence of detectable anti-WNV IgM antibodies up to 8 years post-infection. These findings warrant additional investigation, particularly the determination of whether persistence of IgM is related to persistent infection with WNV.
Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas; University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine, San Antonio, Texas.
Kristy O
KO
Murray
Melissa N
MN
Garcia
Chris
C
Yan
Rodion
R
Gorchakov
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M