Studies of viral antibody responses among Amish families

Serum antibodies to adenovirus (ADN), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), influenza (INF), para-influenza (PAR), mumps (MUM), coxsackie B4 (Cox B4) and B5 (Cox B5) viruses were measured from 584 individuals belonging to 21 Indiana Amish families. Sex and age effects on antibody responses to cytomegalovirus were observed. Age effect on CMV, HSV, INF, PAR, MUM responses were also found. The percentage of responders to some of the viruses was shown to be age dependent, but the levels of antibody response were not affected by the difference in age. A familial basis for the antibody response was demonstrated. Attempts at demonstrating association between HLA haplotypes and responses were not successful. The unlikelihood of predominantly HLA-associated control of viral antibody response was discussed.