Antibodies to membrane antigens of herpes simplex virus type-2 infected cells and HSV-2 specific antibodies in patients with cervical cancer in Malawi.

In a geographical study involving the United Kingdom, Sudan, Sri Lanka and Malawi, sera were taken from 27 Malawian patients with cervical cancer and 18 controls matched for age, ethnic origin and socioeconomic status. The sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence for IgG and IgA antibodies to membrane antigens of herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2). The results showed that there was no significant difference at titres 1:4 between Malawian patients and controls, but at titres 1:16 the difference was significant. It was found that 73% of patients had HSV-2 specific antibodies (measured by ELISA) as compared with 30.7% of controls.