ANTIBODIES TO HERPESVIRUS HOMINIS TYPES 1 AND 2 IN HUMANS1

Abstract

Nahmias, A. J., W. E. Josey, Z. M. Naib, C F. Luce and A. DuflFey (Emory Univ. School of Medicine, Atlanta/ Ga. 30303). Antibodies to Hwpesvirus hominis types 1 and 2 in humans. I. Patients with genital herpetic infections. Amer. J. Epid., 1970, 97: 539–546.—Use of a microneutralization test and quanta I method of analysis permits the differentiation of Herpesvirus hominis (HVH) antibodies into type 1, intermediate or type 2 antibodies. A study of sera obtained from 239 individuals of varying ages in a lower socioeconomk: population showed that, beyond the new-bom age group, type 2 or intermediate antibodies were found only in sera of individuals beyond the age of 14 years. In a second study of 122 patients with genital HVH type 2 infections, one-third were found to be primary cases; one-fourth had type 1 antibodies, another fourth had intermediate antibodies, and 16% had type 2 antibodies in their acute serum. These results demonstrate that type 2 HVH infections can occur in individuals with prior type 1 infections and provide further evidence that intermediate antibodies are dual antibodies, representing prior exposure to both HVH type 1 and 2 infection.