AN EVALUATION OF A HEMAGGLUTINATION-INHIBITION TEST FOR THE DETECTIONOF ANTIBODIES TO HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1

Background: We have recently demonstrated the ability of herpes simple x virus type 1 (HSV-1) to agglutinate mouse red blood cells, and ident ified glycoprotein C (gC-1) as a major virus hemagglutinin. Based on t his a classical hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assay was developed. Objectives: Regarding significant structural differences between HSV-1 gC-1 and its herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) counterpart, gC-2, t he possibility of application of a classical HI assay for the detectio n of HSV-1-specific antibodies was explored. Study design: HI antibody titers were compared with those of gC-1-specific enzyme-linked immuno assay (ELISA), and with the results of the standard gG-1- and gG-2-spe cific immunodot enzymatic assays for the detection of type-specific an tibodies to HSV-1 and HSV-2 respectively. Results: The sensitivity of HI test was 89% and 97% of that gC-1-ELISA and gG-1-immunodot respecti vely. Approximately 21% of serum specimens, defined as containing anti bodies specific for only HSV-2, showed low HI titers. Heterotypic reac tivity with purified gC-1 antigen was also observed in both ELISA and immunoblot assays. Conclusion: Antibodies detectable in HI assay were mainly HSV-1-specific; however, a limited degree of serologic reactivi ty between HSV-2-specific sera and HSV-1 hemagglutinin also occurred. Thus, our results confirmed prevalent opinion about the presence of a limited number of antigenic determinants shared by HSV-1 gC-1 and HSV- 2 gC-2.