Epstein-Barr virus infection: Seroepidemiology in various population groups of the Greater Montreal Area

Abstract

In vivo infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) results in the appearance of EBV antibodies against the viral capsid antigen (VCA), the early antigen (EA), and the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA), detectable by immunofluorescence. This paper reports the results of a study on the incidence of these antibodies in various groups such as infectious mononucleosis (IM) patients and their family members, controls, newborns and military recruits. A prospective study of IM patients showed a delay of 1–6 months in the appearance of EBNA antibodies compared to VCA antibodies. Family contacts and control groups showed a markedly different prevalence of antibodies: prevalence of EBV antibodies was lower in the families where IM occurred than in controls. The rate of EBV seroconversion in contacts during the first year following IM in the family was found not to be higher than that seen in the control group. In the military population, the appearance of heterophil agglutinins with EBV seroconversion but without symptom was noted. Study of EBV seroconversion in the neonatal period and in infancy showed some anomalies in the EBV antibody pattern. A longer delay in the appearance of EBNA antibodies might be explained by the relative inability to produce complement-fixing antibodies in early infancy. A VCA − EBNA + pattern was also noted for which no explanation could be found. This pattern was only seen once before [1]. A few hypotheses are offered in an attempt to explain these unusual phenomena.