Persistence of serum IgA antibodies to herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, cytomegalovirus, and rubella virus detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to detect IgG and IgA antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and rubella virus in sera from 68 adult female gynaecological patients. Of the patients who had virus-specific IgG antibodies, the proportion who also had virus-specific IgA was 98% for HSV, 75% for VZV, 73% for rubella virus, and 42% for CMV. IgA antibodies to all four viruses were only found when specific IgG antibodies were also detected in the serum. These results suggest that virus-specific IgA may persist for several years; possible explanations for this are discussed.