Date of Award:

5-1-1993

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Reed P. Warren

Committee

Reed P. Warren

Committee

Vijendra K. Singh

Committee

Donald V. Sisson

Abstract

Research into the etiology of autism continues without any definitive answers. Recent studies suggest that immune abnormalities may be associated with this disorder and that autism may result from a prenatal viral infection. Past research has associated cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella in autism. This research indirectly studied, via the screening of blood samples for IgG and IgM anti-antibodies to CMV, the possibility that CMV may be an etiological agent in autism. The autistic subjects as compared to age matched controls exhibited no significant differences in either the percentage of those testing positive for IgG antibodies to CMV or in the actual quantitated level of IgG and IgM antibodies to CMV. There was evidence of an increased percentage of IgM antibodies to CMV in autistic subjects as compared to normal subjects, but this finding was not conclusively supported by ELISA analysis. This study also analyzed the siblings of autistic subjects. No significant difference was noted except for increased percentage of IgM antibodies as was found in the autistic subjects. Again, this finding was not completely supported by ELISA analysis. Additional analyses compared autistic subjects with mentally retarded subjects with regards to presence of IgG and IgM antibodies to CMV. Antibody levels were also quantitated via ELISA for mentally retarded patients and compared to autistic subjects. None of these comparative analyses showed any significant differences between autistic and control groups. The parents of autistic subjects, mentally retarded subjects, and healthy subjects were also screened for IgG and IgM antibodies to CMV. No significant differences were noted. Further investigations are necessary before a pathological link can be established between antibodies to CMV and the syndrome of autism.

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