Herpes Antibody Research Articles

P42 The forensic significance of sti’s

<h3>Background/introduction</h3> Testing for STI’s following sexual assault is routine. In cases were there is no other sexual activity other than the sexual assault, the assailant may be the source, and a positive result of significance in criminal investigation. <h3>Aim(s)/objectives</h3> The potential forensic significance of STI results should be considered in each case. <h3>Methods</h3> Discussion on information sharing of STI results is undertaken in cases referred to a sexual assault referral centre (SARC) with an absence of other sexual activity. This is documented and includes interpretation of results. <b>Case 1: </b>An adolescent female, not previous sexually activity, vaginally raped, had a bacterial STI screen and serum save taken hours after the assault. Genital discomfort subsequently developed. A presumptive diagnosis of genital herpes made and tested. Herpes antibody testing was requested on samples taken; initially, when symptomatic and post symptoms. <b>Case 2: </b>An elderly female, widowed several years earlier and sexually inactive since was vaginally raped. A bacterial STI screen was taken at the time initially and 14 days later. <h3>Results</h3> <b>Case 1 – </b>HSV Type 2 confirmed. HSV antibodies initially absent were demonstrated in the post symptomatic sample. <b>Case 2 – </b>Initial <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> NAAT tested negative with a positive result at 2 weeks. <h3>Discussion/conclusion</h3> The results are supportive of the assailants as the source. The positive Chlamydia result supported the penile vaginal penetration described, allowing consideration of a rape charge rather than a lesser offence. In both cases admissions were made pre-trial avoiding victims being called to court.

The acceptability of the introduction of a type specific herpes antibody screening test into a genitourinary medicine clinic in the United Kingdom

Objective: To determine the uptake of a type specific herpes simplex antibody test if it were offered as part of routine screening in a genitourinary medicine clinic in a district...

The epidemiology of herpes simplex types 1 and 2 infection of the genital tract in Edinburgh 1978-1991.

The changing epidemiology of genital herpes in Edinburgh is described in relation to herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type 1 and herpes simplex virus Type 2 infection over a period of 14 years. 2018 episodes of genital herpes in 1794 patients over a 14 year period were assessed. Data on age, sex, sexual orientation, geographical origin and herpes antibodies were also analysed. The proportion of cases that were HSV Type 1 increased over the period from approximately 20% to over 40%. Type 1 infection is more common in the young, in women and as a primary infection. HSV Type 1 is of increasing importance as a cause of genital herpes in our population. This may reflect changes in sexual attitudes and practises over the past decade.

Invasive Cervical Cancer Risk No Greater for DMPA Users Than for Nonusers

The findings of a World Health Organization (WHO) case-control study conducted in Kenya Mexico and Thailand suggest that Depo-Provera users are at no greater risk of invasive cervical cancer than non-users (relative risk 1.1) regardless of duration of use. Women who had used Depo-Provera for 4-8 years were only 10% more likely than non-users to develop cervical cancer and there was no elevation in risk among women who received their first injection more than 12 years before the interview. The WHO Collaborative Study of Neoplasia and Steroid Contraceptives compared 2009 cervical cancer patients with 9583 controls hospitalized for non-gynecologic conditions. In the Thai and Mexican studies the cervical cancer risk was slightly but not significantly elevated among women with a history of anal or genital warts (relative risks 1.24 and 1.61 respectively) but significantly increased among those with herpes simplex type 2 antibodies (relative risk 1.67). However these history variables as well as husbands sexual behavior had no confounding effect on the association between Depo-Provera use and cervical cancer. There was no alteration in cancer risk among Depo-Provera users according to oral contraceptive use sexually transmitted disease history herpes antibody status age at first intercourse or husbands exposure to prostitutes.

Diet and blood nutrient correlations with ischemic heart, hypertensive heart, and stroke mortality in China.

Though major differences exist in subcategory mortality levels, cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death among both Asian Chinese and Westerners. This paper examines the possible relationship between cardiovascular mortality and biochemical, diet and lifestyle factors based on two surveys in China. Statistically significant associations indicate five variables negatively correlated: molybdenum, oleic acid, liquor consumption (males), legumes, and age at first pregnancy with ischemic heart disease; molybdenum, oleic acid (females) and age at first pregnancy with hypertensive heart disease; and legumes and age at first pregnancy with stroke. Five variables were positively correlated: triglycerides and herpes antibodies with ischemic heart disease; salt and phosphorus (females) with hypertensive heart disease; and only albumin (males) with stroke. Some findings confirm those observed in the West (salt, triglycerides, herpes, legumes, oleic acid, and liquor), but molybdenum and age at first pregnancy have not been emphasized previously. Still others significant in the West have not been observed here, such as cholesterol and smoking.

Antiviral activity of 5-ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine against herpes simplex viruses in cell culture, mice, and guinea pigs.

The susceptibility of 3 laboratory strains and 24 clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) to 5-ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine was determined in plaque reduction assays in Vero cells. The median effective doses were 8.6 and 7.8 microM, respectively. The drug was less potent than acyclovir and other related antiviral drugs, but it had a high therapeutic index against both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Drug-resistant viruses were readily produced in cell culture. These variants were cross-resistant to acyclovir, 2'-fluoro-5-iodoaracytosine, and 2'-fluoro-5-methylarauracil but were susceptible to vidarabine or phosphonoformate. These findings confirm that the selective antiviral activity of 5-ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine is mediated by the virus-induced thymidine kinase. Oral or intraperitoneal administration of the drug at nontoxic doses was ineffective in protecting mice against intracerebral challenge with virus. Using implanted osmotic minipumps or coadministering the drug with dimethyl sulfoxide failed to decrease the mortality rate. In guinea pigs infected genitally with HSV-2, topical drug treatment was more effective than placebo in reducing lesion severity and other clinical and virological variables. These effects were noted whether the drug treatment was initiated 3 or 24 h after infection (ascertained serologically). Drug-treated animals had a significantly lower herpes antibody titer than did placebo-treated guinea pigs, suggesting that the drug can also reduce the viral antigen load. In this model, the drug appeared to be as effective as topical phosphonoformate or acyclovir.

A pilot study of surrogate tests to prevent transmission of acquired immune deficiency syndrome by transfusion.

Because of reports that acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) might be transmissible by blood transfusion, we studied potential surrogate tests that could be used for screening donors. Male donors at one volunteer blood center and two plasma centers were screened for total lymphocyte count, OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OKT11, LEU-7, LEU-M2, antibodies to hepatitis B core (anti-HBc), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes and circulating immune complexes. Total lymphocyte counts and the OKT11 were significantly lower in one plasma center. No significant differences were found for the other lymphocyte or monocyte tests. Low T4/T8 ratios, found in 20 percent of donors, did not correlate with other abnormalities. A small percentage (3.3%) of volunteer donors, 15.4 percent at one plasma center and 20.8 percent at a second plasma center, and 38.5 percent of the male homosexual donors were positive for anti-HBc (significant when comparing the male homosexuals to the volunteers at p = 0.032). Positive CMV and herpes titers were similar in the groups. Circulating immune complex levels greater than two standard deviations above the mean were found in 20 percent of the volunteer donors, 7.7 percent at one plasma center and 8.3 percent at the second plasma center, and none in the male homosexual population. Pearson product moment correlations showed reasonably good agreement among the lymphocyte tests. However, the anti-HBc, CMV, and herpes antibodies and circulating immune complex levels did not correlate with any of the other tests. Surrogate tests for AIDS are nonspecific and unlikely to be helpful in screening blood donor units.

Traitement par acyclovir d’un eczema herpeticum compliquant une maladie de Darier

This paper describes two episodes of eczema herpeticum occurring in a woman with Darier's disease. During the first episode, the vesicular eruption represented a primary herpetic infection because there were no IgM herpes antibodies. The second attack suggested a recurrent infection. Herpes simplex, virus type I was isolated from the lesions in both cases.

PRESENCE OF ELEVATED ANTIBODY TITRES TO EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS BEFORE HODGKIN'S DISEASE

Sera taken 12 and 21 months before the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease in two patients showed higher antibody levels to several Epstein-Barr-virus (EBV) antigens than did sera from eight matched controls. In one case the titres of all EB antibodies except that to nuclear antigen were raised in a serum sample obtained 45 months after the diagnosis was made. Antibody levels to herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus, and varicella zoster viruses were normal in both cases. A third patient with histiocytic lymphoma had normal EBV and other herpes antibody titres in a serum sample taken 40 months before diagnosis.

Lack of association between defective delinquents and antibody of herpesvirus hom in is

Several groups have reported a relation between herpesvirus hominis infection and certain psychiatric disorders. We have investigated herpes antibody levels in chronic criminal offenders who were diagnosed as defective delinquents and in criminals who were not defective delinquents. We found no difference in the frequency of titers of herpesvirus type I or type 2 antibody in these groups.

Cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobulin quotients, kappa/lambda ratios, and viral antibody titres in neurological disease.

A description has been given of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immunoglobulins in 355 patients with demyelinating, infectious, neuropathic, and other neurological disorders. An increase in the CSF IgG/albumin quotient was observed in 19/36 (53%) cases of definite multiple sclerosis (MS), in 13/47 (28%) cases of probable or possible MS, in 6/9 (67%) cases of proven herpes simplex viral encephalitis (HSVE), in 3/4 (75%) cases of neurosyphilis, in 1/1 case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), in 2/9 )22%) cases of other central nervous system infections, and in 2/12 (17%) cases of polyneuritis when compared with a group of 236 patients having other neurological disorders. In constrast, a relative increase in the CSF IgA of IgM was seen only in some of the patients with central nervous system infections. It was also found that the quotient CSF/serum IgG, expressed as a percentage of the CSF/serum albumin, was better in distinguishing patients with definite or suspected MS from those with other neurological disorders than the quotients IgG/albumin or IgG/total protein. The CSF K/lambda ratio and the CSF and serum complement-fixing antibody titre to measles and herpes simplex virus were measured in many of the patients. In general, abnormalities of these measurements were associated with raised IgG/albumin quotients. However, in eight patients with definite or suspected MS, a normal IgG/albumin quotient was found with abnormal CSF K/lambda ratios (6 cases) or abnormal CSF titres of measles antibody (7 cases). In addition, two patients, with HSVE had normal IgG/albumin ratios but detectable herpes antibody in the CSF. These findings suggest that the measurement of the relative concentration of CSF immunoglobulin in combination with the K/lambda ratio and antibody titre to various viruses may supplement each other in the endeavour to detect central nervous system immunglobulin sysnthesis in neurological diseases.

Cerebrospinal Fluid IgG Level in Herpes Simplex Encephalitis

Elevated levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were associated with elevated herpes antibody in the CSF in a case of herpes simplex encephalitis. The case was also characterized by a prolonged course and a difficult virus isolation.

Antibodies to adeno-associated satellite virus and herpes simplex in sera from cancer patients and normal adults

The ecologic aspects of the distribution of adeno-associated satellite virus (ASV) in the human population are of great interest because of its unconditional defectiveness and dependence on adenovirus for full and herpesvirus for partial complementation. Adenoviruses and herpesviruses are extremely common and persistent infections in man. We have developed immunofluorescent procedures for detecting the presence of satellite virus antibodies in human sera. The percentage of sera with antibodies to the ASV 2–3 complex was significantly higher in the normal group than in the cancer patients whereas there were no significant differences in herpes antibodies between the groups. The low incidence of satellite antibodies was particularly striking in patients with genital malignancies. The role of ASV's in human disease is not known. Their role in possible abrogation of oncogenesis mediated through adenoviruses or herpesviruses is worthy of further investigation.

Herpes Simplex Neutralizing Antibody—Quantitation of the Complement-Dependent Fraction in Different Phases of Adult Human Infection

Summary A quantitative analysis of complement dependence in herpes antibody was carried out, using the plaque-reduction technique to test sera from young adults with primary and recurrent herpes. The results suggest the following conclusions: Between one- and two-thirds of neutralizing antibody activity is complement dependent. Neither the fraction of complement-dependent antibody nor the serum complement level varies in the different phases of recurrent herpes in such a manner as to suggest any role of complement in allowing or preventing recurrences. In adult primary herpes, complement-dependent and complement-independent antibody appear together, so that complement dependence cannot be used in the diagnosis during the acute phase.

Prevention of Neonatal Herpes Infection

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> We read with interest the report of Nahmias et al (<b>199</b>:164, 1967), "Neonatal Herpes Simplex Infection." We have had some experience with similar infections, although to documentation of all aspects in mother and baby is not always possible. We agree with most of the recommendations made but would add one simple additional point. Herpes antibody is a very effective neutralizer of most of the free virus particles. We have made it a practice to swab the newborn infant with a dilute solution of γ-globulin known to contain herpes antibodies, with the idea of immediately reducing the infectious burden in the vicinity of the newborn baby. Further procedures would then be followed as described in the article. This method has not been tested in any controlled studies but seems to be reasonable, inexpensive, and potentially very efficacious. We have routinely used γ-globulin 1:-100 in saline solution for

Variation of herpes simplex virus in persistently infected tissue cultures.

Hinze, Harry C. (University of Wisconsin, Madison), and Duard L. Walker. Variation of herpes simplex virus in persistently infected tissue cultures. J. Bacteriol. 82:498-504. 1961.-Cultures of human conjunctiva, HeLa, and KB cells infected with herpes simplex virus (HF strain) were cultured for prolonged periods in medium containing low levels of antibody. After continuous culture of the infected cell lines for 6 months, two major changes were noted in the character of the virus present in the cultures. These changes consisted of an alteration in the type of cytopathic effect produced by the virus and marked loss of virulence for mice. Further study of the virus from the cultures revealed that it was still antigenically similar to the original strain of herpes virus. It was found that the variant produced an altered, proliferative type of cytopathic effect only in the presence of herpes antibody. The variant multiplied more slowly in human conjunctiva cells in culture than did the parent virus, and the variant had lost practically all capacity for multiplication in the brain of mice.

Studies on Herpes Simplex Virus

Summary When examined by an egg-neutralization technique which employed preliminary incubation of virus-serum mixtures (1 hour at 37 C) human sera failed to exhibit “all or none” character of herpes antibody levels. The antibody titers of sera from herpetic individuals extended over more than a one thousandfold range. Significant fluctuation in herpes antibody titer was demonstrated in sera obtained from such individuals at different times.

Diagnosis of herpes simplex infections by the complement fixation test.

Herpes simplex is among the most ubiquitous of viruses capable of infecting man, and the clinical manifestations of the infection it induces are various. Until recently no simple and rapid serologic test has been available by which the antibody response to infection with this virus could be determined. When serologic studies have been carried out, the virus neutralization test usually has been employed, although antigens for use in complement fixation and skin tests have been described. The present study was undertaken to explore the value as antigens in the complement fixation test of amniotic and allantoic fluid from infected chick embryos. When such materials were shown to be effective in this respect, the reliability of the test as a diagnostic procedure and as a tool for the epidemiological study of herpes infections was investigated. Earlier workers who applied complement fixation tests to the assay of herpes antibody used antigens prepared