Assay of viral antibodies in school children by using saliva samples

ABSTRACT

Saliva was collected from 234 healthy school children aged from 6 to 12 years to be tested for IgG and IgA antibodies to hepatitis A virus [HAV], rubella, measles, mumps and herpes type I viruses. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] to detect antiviral antibodies by immunoglobulin [Ig] class capture was done. These children who had saliva IgG were 129 [anti-HAV]; 105 [anti-rubella]; 101 [anti-measles]; 66 [anti-mumps] and 56 [anti-herpes]. While those children who had in their saliva virus specific IgA were 114 [anti-HAV]; 82 [anti-rubella]; 78 [anti-measles]; 49 [anti-mumps] and 48 [anti-herpes]. Antiviral antibodies in the 6-12 year age group reflect the efficiency of vaccination and herd immunity through natural infection during childhood. On the basis of the percent positive anti-viral IgG or IgA in saliva detected in this study these immune responses are far from optimum