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Early acquisition of herpes simplex virus type 1 antibodies in children--a longitudinal serological study
Petra Tunbäck1, Tomas Bergström, Bo A Claesson
1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, S-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. petra.tunback@derm.gu.se
Background:
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections are commonly acquired in childhood, asymptomatically or as a symptomatic infection. However, little is known about the time of HSV seroconversion during infancy and early childhood.
Objective:
To investigate the acquisition of IgG-antibodies to HSV in infants and children.
Study Design:
A longitudinal study, using type-specific HSV-1 and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays on sera collected from the mother and from their child at the age of 3, 5, 6, 12, 13 and 30 months.
Results:
The maternal seroprevalences for HSV-1 was 65% and for HSV-2 19%. A gradual loss of maternal antibodies was seen, with few infants having detectable HSV-1 antibodies at the age of 1 year. A more rapid decline was registered for HSV-2 antibodies. A small number of new HSV-1 infections occurred in 3-5-month olds and more than half of the new infections were detected before the age of 13 months. At the age of 30 months, 30% of the children were HSV-1 antibody positive.
Conclusion:
Seroconversion to HSV-1 commonly occurs already during infancy, suggesting that HSV-1 is transmitted primarily from parent to child.
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