Herpesvirus infections are among the commonest human viral infections. In most cases the primary infection is asymptomatic but remains for a life time. In the last years, a tendency of increasing the frequency and severity of clinically manifested cases was observed. The most useful indicator for available infection is a specific serum antibody. The aims of the present study are to determine the antibody prevalence to 5 Herpesviruses: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2), Varicella zoster virus (VZV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a randomly chosen population of North/Eastern Bulgaria by different methods, depending on the age, and to determine the diagnostic capacity of each of them in common medical practice. Study population: 1846 single serum samples of randomly chosen persons divided into age groups were tested. Methods: CFT, ELISA, and IFA for detection of IgG specific antibodies. Results: Depending on the used methods, mean positivity to HSV1 was 66% - 70%, to HSV2 - 56%, to VZV - 50% - 62%, to CMV - 65% - 70% and to EBV - 45% - 61%. We found age depending dynamic in seropositivity rate. The prevalence of sera that re acted with all 5 Herpesviruses in reproductive age groups is 51%. Our study indicated different results in age related seropositivity rate to VZV and EBV de pending on performed tests.
Conclusions: Herpesvirus infections are wide spread in our region. The different serological tests permit to determine the diagnostic capacity of each of them in common medical practice.
Scripta Scientifica Medica 2007; 39(2):125-128
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