Herpes Simplex Virus Seroprevalence in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study

Document Type : Original Article

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College of Medicine, University of AL-Iraqia, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Background: exposure to these viruses, HSV-1 and HSV-2, has been linked to neurological and behavioral problems in children that exhibit symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia and autism, these Viruses can cause neuronal cell death and trigger a widespread inflammatory response, which may impact the development of autism.  Several case reports suggest a link between herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Objectives: to investigate the prevalence of herpes in autistic children. Material and Methods: Collected 400 blood samples from autistic children, with 258 males and 142 females. The age range was 2 to 16 years, with a mean age of 5.87 ± 2.544 years. ELISA technology identified the presence of a herpes infection. The samples were centrifuged, separated, and stored at 4°C until the detection tests for HSV1 and HSV2 were conducted. Results: Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had a discernible inclination towards elevated levels of antibodies against the Herpes Simplex Virus HSV-1 (60%), and HSV-2(25.5%).
 Conclusions: Although the outcomes are positive, there remains a possibility that HSV contributes to ASD for two specific reasons. Firstly, the presence of elevated antibody levels and the diversity in age, sex, ASD levels, or severity necessitate additional research. Furthermore, the virus can operate as a catalyst or underlying cause for specific infants who have a genetic or environmental inclination towards these problems.

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