Specific immunity after congenital or neonatal infection with cytomegalovirus or herpes simplex virus

Infants or children who had congenital or neonatal infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) or herpes simplex virus (HSV) have fewer than 1:30,000 mononuclear cells in their blood lymphocytes preparations that proliferate in cultures stimulated with the corresponding viral antigens. CMV and HSV responder cell frequencies in children and adults whose immunity followed postnatal infection with these viruses are 1:10,000 to 1:20,000. The low precursor frequency after congenital or neonatal infection is not associated with defective antigen processing by monocytes or nonspecific immunosuppression. Phenotypic changes in T cell subsets and the presence of antibody in the subjects suggests that the virus(es) do indeed elicit an immune response, but that this response is quantitatively deficient.