High prevalence of HHV-6 DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy individuals detected by nested-PCR

✍ Scribed by Dr. José I. Cuende; Juan Ruiz; Maria P. Civeira; Jesús Prieto

• Book ID: 102378300
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 452 KB
• Volume: 43
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.1890430203

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The aim of the study was the evaluation of human herpesvirus‐6 (HHV‐6) infection rate and semiquantification of viremia in healthy people. Healthy blood donors were studied. Human herpesvirus‐6 IgG and IgM antibody titers were measured by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Human herpesvirus‐6 DNA amplification (nested‐PCR) was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and in serum. Seventeen of 50 (34 percent) individuals were positive for IgG anti‐HHV‐6 and the titers ranged from 1:40 to 1:160. None of 30 individuals was positive for IgM anti‐HHV‐6, suggesting no recent infection nor reactivation. Human herpesvirus‐6 DNA was detected by nested‐PCR amplification in peripheral blood mononuclear cells but not in sera. When 1 μg DNA was amplified, HHV‐6 DNA was detected in 8 of 20 individual (40%), but in 18 of 20 (90%) when 5 μg DNA were amplified. It is concluded that HHV‐6 is present in a high proportion of the healthy population but in minimal amounts, and although it can be detected in 1.4 × 10^5^ PBMC, 7 × 10^5^ cells are necessary to detect most cases. No reactivation was observed in healthy people. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.