The seroepidemiology of infection due to Epstein-Barr virus in southern India

Venkitaraman, Ashok R. ; Lenoir, Gilbert M. ; Jacob John, T. (1985) The seroepidemiology of infection due to Epstein-Barr virus in southern India Journal of Medical Virology, 15 (1). pp. 11-16. ISSN 0146-6615

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Official URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.189...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmv.1890150103

Abstract

We investigated the seroepidemiology of infection due to Epstein Barr virus (EBV) in 181 south Indian subjects aged 0-25 years using the indirect immunofluorescence method to titrate antibodies to viral capsid antigen (VCA), nuclear antigen (EBNA), and early antigen (EA). The age-specific prevalence of IgG antibodies to VCA rose rapidly to 90% by the age of 5 years. The prevalence of VCA-specific IgM and the geometric mean titre of VCA-specific IgG antibodies were highest between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, the median age of primary infection being 1.4 years. Thus primary EBV infection occurs early in life. EA antibody prevalence was highest (55%) in the third year of life and remained between 30% and 40% thereafter. This pattern of EA antibody prevalence suggests that the latent EBV infection that persists lifelong after primary infection may be reactivated in many individuals. EBNA antibody prevalence was low until the age of 2 years but rose to 80% in the fourth year. Geometric mean titres of antibodies to EA and EBNA were low and stable at all ages. These results are similar to data from areas where EBV-associated Burkitt's lymphoma is endemic and indicate a high EBV infection load early in life.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Keywords:Epstein-Barr Virus; Seroepidemiology; India; Indirect Immunofluorescence
ID Code:29563
Deposited On:20 Dec 2010 08:03
Last Modified:03 Jun 2011 11:51

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