Persistence of detectable immunoglobulin M antibodies up to 8 years after infection with West Nile virus

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Nov;89(5):996-1000. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0232. Epub 2013 Sep 23.

Abstract

In Houston, we have been monitoring the immune response to West Nile virus (WNV) infection in a large cohort of study participants since 2002. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques, serum from 163 participants was tested for the presence of anti-WNV immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies. We found that 42%, 34%, and 23% of study participants had either positive or equivocal results when tested for anti-WNV IgM antibodies approximately 1, 6, and 8 years post-infection, respectively. Conversely, almost one-half of study participants (46%) had undetectable anti-WNV IgG antibodies by 8 years post-infection. This study is the first study to calculate the slope of the rate of decay of antibodies over time as well as show persistence of detectable anti-WNV IgM antibodies up to 8 years post-infection. These findings warrant additional investigation, particularly the determination of whether persistence of IgM is related to persistent infection with WNV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Child
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Texas / epidemiology
  • Time Factors
  • West Nile Fever / blood*
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever / immunology
  • West Nile Fever / virology
  • West Nile virus / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M