Seroprevalence of Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus infections in Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections affect around 95% of the world’s population. In Brazil, there are few epidemiological reports related to EBV and CMV infection, especially in the western Amazon region. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of EBV and CMV infection in individuals residents in Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil. Blood samples of 443 individuals were tested for the presence of anti-EBV and anti-CMV IgG antibodies through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. EBV (95.9%; 95% CI: 0.94;0.98), CMV (96.8%; 95% CI: 0.95;0.98) and CMV/EBV (93%;95% CI: 0.91–0.95) coinfection were highly prevalent in the study population. Children (1 to 5 years) not attending school were less susceptible to EBV (OR 0.15; 95% CI: 0.05–0.52; p = 0.017) and CMV infections (OR 0.05; 95% CI: 0.02 − 0.17; p < 0.0001). Teenagers at high school showed increased susceptibility to CMV infection (OR 4.65; 95%CI: 1.43–15.08; p = .013) and EBV/CMV co-infection (OR 3.04; 95%CI: 1.44–6.45; p = 0.005). The seroprevalence of CMV and EBV infections were preeminent and tend to increase with age in the study population. Either attendance to a daycare facility or primary school before the age of 5 years may increase the susceptibility to EBV or CMV infection.