Skip to main content
PMC home page
Sexually Transmitted Infections logoLink to Sexually Transmitted Infections
. 1999 Jun;75(3):168–171. doi: 10.1136/sti.75.3.168

Serological evaluation of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 infections in pregnancy

M Arvaja, M Lehtinen, P Koskela, M Lappalainen, J Paavonen, T Vesikari
PMCID: PMC1758200  PMID: 10448394

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Serological evaluation of herpes simplex virus infections during pregnancy. METHODS: 2991 serum samples were obtained during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester from 997 pregnant women. Baculovirus expressed glycoproteins gG1 (HSV-1) and gG2 (HSV-2) were used as antigens in ELISA for HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG and IgA antibodies. RESULTS: The prevalence of HSV-1 gG1 antibodies was 70% and that of HSV-2 gG2 antibodies 16%. Among susceptible women we found five (0.6%) cases with serological evidence of primary HSV-2 infection during pregnancy. Evidence of active HSV-1 infection was found in nine (0.9%) cases. Decline of HSV-2 gG2 IgG antibody levels during pregnancy was pronounced compared with HSV-1 gG1 IgG antibody levels (p < 0.01); also the proportion of seroreversions was considerably higher among HSV-2 seropositives (25%) than among HSV-1 seropositives (3%) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HSV-2 gG2 IgG antibodies were readily distinguished from HSV-1 gG1 IgG antibodies by the glycoprotein gG ELISAs. Serological assays for gG2 antibodies should guard against the decline of specific antibodies during pregnancy. 




Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (99.2 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Arvin A. M., Hensleigh P. A., Prober C. G., Au D. S., Yasukawa L. L., Wittek A. E., Palumbo P. E., Paryani S. G., Yeager A. S. Failure of antepartum maternal cultures to predict the infant's risk of exposure to herpes simplex virus at delivery. N Engl J Med. 1986 Sep 25;315(13):796–800. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198609253151303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ashley R. L., Corey L., Dalessio J., Wilson P., Remington M., Barnum G., Trethewey P. Protein-specific cervical antibody responses to primary genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infections. J Infect Dis. 1994 Jul;170(1):20–26. doi: 10.1093/infdis/170.1.20. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ashley R. L., Wu L., Pickering J. W., Tu M. C., Schnorenberg L. Premarket evaluation of a commercial glycoprotein G-based enzyme immunoassay for herpes simplex virus type-specific antibodies. J Clin Microbiol. 1998 Jan;36(1):294–295. doi: 10.1128/jcm.36.1.294-295.1998. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Ashley R., Cent A., Maggs V., Nahmias A., Corey L. Inability of enzyme immunoassays to discriminate between infections with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. Ann Intern Med. 1991 Oct 1;115(7):520–526. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-115-7-520. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bavinck J. N., Gissmann L., Claas F. H., Van der Woude F. J., Persijn G. G., Ter Schegget J., Vermeer B. J., Jochmus I., Müller M., Steger G. Relation between skin cancer, humoral responses to human papillomaviruses, and HLA class II molecules in renal transplant recipients. J Immunol. 1993 Aug 1;151(3):1579–1586. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Boucher F. D., Yasukawa L. L., Kerns K., Kastelein M., Arvin A. M., Prober C. G. Detection of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 with a mammalian cell line expressing glycoprotein gG-2. Clin Diagn Virol. 1993 Mar;1(1):29–38. doi: 10.1016/0928-0197(93)90031-y. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brown Z. A., Benedetti J., Ashley R., Burchett S., Selke S., Berry S., Vontver L. A., Corey L. Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection in relation to asymptomatic maternal infection at the time of labor. N Engl J Med. 1991 May 2;324(18):1247–1252. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199105023241804. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Brown Z. A., Selke S., Zeh J., Kopelman J., Maslow A., Ashley R. L., Watts D. H., Berry S., Herd M., Corey L. The acquisition of herpes simplex virus during pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 1997 Aug 21;337(8):509–515. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199708213370801. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Brown Z. A., Vontver L. A., Benedetti J., Critchlow C. W., Sells C. J., Berry S., Corey L. Effects on infants of a first episode of genital herpes during pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 1987 Nov 12;317(20):1246–1251. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198711123172002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Christenson B., Böttiger M., Svensson A., Jeansson S. A 15-year surveillance study of antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in a cohort of young girls. J Infect. 1992 Sep;25(2):147–154. doi: 10.1016/0163-4453(92)93943-k. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Cowan F. M., Johnson A. M., Ashley R., Corey L., Mindel A. Antibody to herpes simplex virus type 2 as serological marker of sexual lifestyle in populations. BMJ. 1994 Nov 19;309(6965):1325–1329. doi: 10.1136/bmj.309.6965.1325. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Forsgren M., Skoog E., Jeansson S., Olofsson S., Giesecke J. Prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus in pregnant women in Stockholm in 1969, 1983 and 1989: implications for STD epidemiology. Int J STD AIDS. 1994 Mar-Apr;5(2):113–116. doi: 10.1177/095646249400500207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Groen J., Van Dijk G., Niesters H. G., Van Der Meijden W. I., Osterhaus A. D. Comparison of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and one rapid immunoblot assay for detection of herpes simplex virus type 2-specific antibodies in serum. J Clin Microbiol. 1998 Mar;36(3):845–847. doi: 10.1128/jcm.36.3.845-847.1998. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Johnson R. E., Nahmias A. J., Magder L. S., Lee F. K., Brooks C. A., Snowden C. B. A seroepidemiologic survey of the prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in the United States. N Engl J Med. 1989 Jul 6;321(1):7–12. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198907063210102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Jones C. L., Macdonald R. A., Hosking C. S., Roberton D. M. Estimating the relative avidity of mucosal IgA for antigen. J Immunol Methods. 1987 Dec 4;105(1):111–117. doi: 10.1016/0022-1759(87)90420-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Koutsky L. A., Stevens C. E., Holmes K. K., Ashley R. L., Kiviat N. B., Critchlow C. W., Corey L. Underdiagnosis of genital herpes by current clinical and viral-isolation procedures. N Engl J Med. 1992 Jun 4;326(23):1533–1539. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199206043262305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Lappalainen M., Koskela P., Koskiniemi M., Ammälä P., Hiilesmaa V., Teramo K., Raivio K. O., Remington J. S., Hedman K. Toxoplasmosis acquired during pregnancy: improved serodiagnosis based on avidity of IgG. J Infect Dis. 1993 Mar;167(3):691–697. doi: 10.1093/infdis/167.3.691. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lee F. K., Coleman R. M., Pereira L., Bailey P. D., Tatsuno M., Nahmias A. J. Detection of herpes simplex virus type 2-specific antibody with glycoprotein G. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Oct;22(4):641–644. doi: 10.1128/jcm.22.4.641-644.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Lehtinen M., Koivisto V., Lehtinen T., Paavonen J., Leinikki P. Immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis of serological responses in patients infected with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. Intervirology. 1985;24(1):18–25. doi: 10.1159/000149614. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lehtinen M., Leminen A., Kuoppala T., Tiikkainen M., Lehtinen T., Lehtovirta P., Punnonen R., Vesterinen E., Paavonen J. Pre- and posttreatment serum antibody responses to HPV 16 E2 and HSV 2 ICP8 proteins in women with cervical carcinoma. J Med Virol. 1992 Jul;37(3):180–186. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890370306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Mertz G. J., Benedetti J., Ashley R., Selke S. A., Corey L. Risk factors for the sexual transmission of genital herpes. Ann Intern Med. 1992 Feb 1;116(3):197–202. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-116-3-197. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Miettinen A., Paavonen J., Jansson E., Leinikki P. Enzyme immunoassay for serum antibody to Mycoplasma hominis in women with acute pelvic inflammatory disease. Sex Transm Dis. 1983 Oct-Dec;10(4 Suppl):289–293. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Nahmias A. J., Lee F. K., Beckman-Nahmias S. Sero-epidemiological and -sociological patterns of herpes simplex virus infection in the world. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl. 1990;69:19–36. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Persson K., Månsson A., Jönsson E., Nordenfelt E. Decline of herpes simplex virus type 2 and Chlamydia trachomatis infections from 1970 to 1993 indicated by a similar change in antibody pattern. Scand J Infect Dis. 1995;27(3):195–199. doi: 10.3109/00365549509019008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Prober C. G., Sullender W. M., Yasukawa L. L., Au D. S., Yeager A. S., Arvin A. M. Low risk of herpes simplex virus infections in neonates exposed to the virus at the time of vaginal delivery to mothers with recurrent genital herpes simplex virus infections. N Engl J Med. 1987 Jan 29;316(5):240–244. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198701293160503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Randolph A. G., Washington A. E., Prober C. G. Cesarean delivery for women presenting with genital herpes lesions. Efficacy, risks, and costs. JAMA. 1993 Jul 7;270(1):77–82. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Stanley C., Lew A. M., Steward M. W. The measurement of antibody affinity: a comparison of five techniques utilizing a panel of monoclonal anti-DNP antibodies and the effect of high affinity antibody on the measurement of low affinity antibody. J Immunol Methods. 1983 Nov 11;64(1-2):119–132. doi: 10.1016/0022-1759(83)90390-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Suchánková A., Hirsch I., Kremár M., Vonka V. Determination of herpes simplex virus type-specific antibodies by solid-phase RIA on Helix pomatia lectin-purified antigens. J Infect Dis. 1984 Jun;149(6):964–972. doi: 10.1093/infdis/149.6.964. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Sullender W. M., Yasukawa L. L., Schwartz M., Pereira L., Hensleigh P. A., Prober C. G., Arvin A. M. Type-specific antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein G in pregnant women, infants exposed to maternal HSV-2 infection at delivery, and infants with neonatal herpes. J Infect Dis. 1988 Jan;157(1):164–171. doi: 10.1093/infdis/157.1.164. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Sánchez-Martínez D., Pellett P. E. Expression of HSV-1 and HSV-2 glycoprotein G in insect cells by using a novel baculovirus expression vector. Virology. 1991 May;182(1):229–238. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(91)90666-y. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Whitley R. J. Herpes simplex virus infections of women and their offspring: implications for a developed society. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Mar 29;91(7):2441–2447. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.7.2441. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Whitley R., Arvin A., Prober C., Corey L., Burchett S., Plotkin S., Starr S., Jacobs R., Powell D., Nahmias A. Predictors of morbidity and mortality in neonates with herpes simplex virus infections. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1991 Feb 14;324(7):450–454. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199102143240704. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Sexually Transmitted Infections are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES