Serum samples from 6015 African subjects without symptoms of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or contact with the disease were examined for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus by a combination of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunoprecipitation (2567 samples) or by immunofluorescence (3448 samples). Serum samples had been collected between 1976 and 1984...

We conducted a seroepidemiological study to evaluate the potential impact of mass varicella vaccination on the transmission of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in Italy, where vaccination is not mandatory. We tested 3179 serum samples, collected from September 1996 to October 1997, for specific anti-VZV antibodies using a commercially available ELISA. The results confirmed that varicella typically ...

To the Editor: Saffold virus (SAFV) is a new human virus belonging to the genus Cardiovirus of the family Picornaviridae (1–6). The virus has also been named human Theiler's-like cardiovirus (4). To date, 8 SAFV genotypes are known, based on molecular variation in the P1 region, which codes for the viral capsid (5). SAFVs are detected in respiratory and fecal samples from infants and children <...

OBJECTIVES To describe the seroepidemiology of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 in the general populations of eight European countries to better understand recent reported changes in disease epidemiology. METHODS Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, England and Wales, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, and Slovenia conducted national cross sectional serological surveys for HSV-1 and HSV-2 b...