Avidity of Antibodies against HSV-2 and Risk to Neonatal Transmission among Mexican Pregnant Women

Abstract

Objective. To determine HSV-2 seroprevalence, risk factors, and antibody avidity among a sample of Mexican pregnant women. Material and Methods. The avidity test was standardized with different urea concentrations and incubation times; the cut-off point was calculated to determine the low avidity (early infection). IgG antibodies against HSV-2 were detected from pregnant and postpartum women from Morelos, Mexico, and the avidity test was performed to positive samples. Multivariate regression logistic analysis was employed to evaluate demographic and sexual behavior characteristics associated with HSV-2 infection. Results. HSV-2 seroprevalence among Mexican women analyzed was 14.5% (333/2300), demographic factors (location of General Hospital, age, education level, and civil status), and risky sexual behaviors (STI self-report and number of sexual partners during last year) were associated with HSV-2 infection. Seventeen women were detected with low avidity antibodies (early infection) with a cut-off point of 66.1%. Conclusions. HSV-2 infection was common among this group of women from Mexico; the avidity test detected women with recent infections, and these women were more likely to transmit HSV-2 to their neonates. Neonatal herpes has no epidemiological surveillance, the disease could be overlooked, and so more studies are needed to estimate the magnitude of neonatal infection.

Sexual behavioral correlates with HSV-2 seroprevalence among pregnant women in Nigeria

“…Although this seroprevalence result falls within the range of 30%-80% found among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa [11], it is higher than HSV-2 seroprevalences found in several studies among populations of pregnant women in the sub-Saharan Africa region: 20.7% and 33.6% from different locations in Tanzania [12,13]; and 26% in Senegal [14]. This figure is still remarkably higher than findings from studies on pregnant populations outside Africa: 7.5% in India [15], 11.5% in Australia [16], 14.5% in Mexico [17], and 22% in USA [18]. The implication of this finding is that HSV-2 transmission in Benin, Nigeria is efficient; and it indicates that there could be underlying peculiar factors in the environment that enable the sustenance of such a high level of transmission efficiency.…”

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus 2 infection among pregnant women in urban health training Yopougon-Attie (Cote Divoire)

“…In our study, the seroprevalence of HSV2 infection among pregnant women was 96.5%. The prevalence rate is 14.5% among Mexican pregnant women (Herrera-Ortiz et al, 2013). Among Italian ones, it rotates around 7.6 and 8.4% (Jindal et al, 2012).…”

Cross‐reactive antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity antibodies are increased by recent infection in a household study of influenza transmission

“…Following FBS blocking and washing (PBS with 0.05% Tween‐20), diluted heat‐inactivated serum samples (1:100) were bound for 2 hours, washed and detected by secondary anti‐human IgG‐HRP (Invitrogen, USA)), substrate/stop reaction (R&D systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA) and read at 450 nm. Additional experiments to assess the avidity of NP, H1‐HA and H3‐HA antibodies binding by incubation of 15 min with 8M Urea (Sigma, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan), after serum binding to remove low avidity antibodies, and the % remaining IgG response representing high avidity antibodies . IgG subclasses were determined using anti‐human IgG1‐HRP or IgG2‐HRP (Southern Biotech, USA).…”

“…Additional experiments to assess the avidity of NP, H1-HA and H3-HA antibodies binding by incubation of 15 min with 8M Urea (Sigma, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan), after serum binding to remove low avidity antibodies, and the % remaining IgG response representing high avidity antibodies. 52 IgG subclasses were determined using antihuman IgG1-HRP or IgG2-HRP (Southern Biotech, USA).…”