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BK virus: I. Seroepidemiologic studies and serologic response to viral infection

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Abstract

Sera of 656 patients in seven age groups were tested by hemagglutination=inhibition (HI) and complement=fixation (CF) tests for antibodies to BK virus. Both tests revealed that BK virus antibodies are common in the population of southern Germany, and that primary infection is apparently acquired during childhood. The highest rate of positive sera, 71% in the HI test and 56% in the CF test, was found in the 15–30 year old group. The antibody titers correlated in both serologic tests, but HI tests were more sensitive and reliable than CF tests. An indirect immunofluorescence assay for the detection of BK virus-specific IgM antibodies was also developed. Studying umbilical cord blood sera from 846 healthy donors, BK virus IgM antibodies were detected in 77 sera (9.1%).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für klinische Virologie der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Loschgestraße 7, D-8520, Erlangen, Germany

    Hanns-Joachim Rziha & Georg W. Bornkamm

  2. Zentrum für Hygiene, Institut für Virologie, Hermann-Herder-Straße 11, D-7800, Freiburg, Germany

    Harald zur Hausen

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  1. Hanns-Joachim Rziha
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  2. Georg W. Bornkamm
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  3. Harald zur Hausen
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Rziha, HJ., Bornkamm, G.W. & zur Hausen, H. BK virus: I. Seroepidemiologic studies and serologic response to viral infection. Med Microbiol Immunol 165, 73–81 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02122742

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02122742

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