HSV2 IgG Reagent – Jaj International

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an enveloped DNA-containing virus morphologically similar to the other members of the Herpetoviridae family. Two naturally occurring variants of HSV, with different biologic and epidemiologic characteristics, are recognized by restriction-endonuclease or antigenic analysis. Both types of virus cause infections in humans which range in severity from cold sores to encephalitis.

HSV Type 1 (HSV-1) generally infects the mucous membrane of the eye, mouth and mucocutaneous junctions of the face, and is also one of the most common causes of severe sporadic encephalitis in adults. HSV Type 2 (HSV-2) is usually associated with mucocutaneous genital lesions: genital herpes is now one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.

The association between the site of infection and the HSV type involved is not, however, exclusive. Once infection occurs, HSV persists in a latent state in sensory ganglia from where it may re-emerge to cause periodic recurrence of infection induced by many stimuli, which may or may not result in clinical lesions. Immunocompromised patients are more likely to have frequent HSV recurrences. This suggests that serum antibody and virus-specific cell-mediated immunity contribute to recover.

Pregnant women who develop genital herpes are two to three times more likely to have spontaneous abortions or deliver a premature infant than are pregnant non-infected women. Active virus excretion in genital secretions of pregnant women may result in severe neonatal HSV infection contracted when the infant passes through an infected genital tract.

When HSV lesions are present during delivery, 40% to 60% of the neonates can be affected. Transmission of HSV infection to neonates is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates if untreated. By five years of age, 35% of children have antibody to HSV-1 and 80% of adults by age 25 will have specific antibodies to HSV-1.

Since HSV-1 and HSV-2 share common antigenic determinants, antibody directed against one viral type may cross-react with the other viral type. Recurrent infections often occur with both viral types despite the presence of circulating antiviral antibodies. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of HSV infection is necessary to ensure early implementation of selective antiviral chemotherapy and to minimize spread of infection. The first humoral immune response to infection is the synthesis of specific anti-HSV IgM antibody which becomes detectable one week after infection.

Normally this is a proof of recent or recurrent infection. Specific IgG antibody generally appears two to three weeks after primary infection, but may fall in titer after a few months. Patients with recurring disease often do not show an increase in titer. Detection of IgG allows assessment of the patient’s immune status and provides serological evidence of prior exposure to HSV. This may aid in the diagnosis of recent (primary or recurrent) HSV infection in paired sera by the presence of seroconversion to HSV-1 or HSV-2 antibody.

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