Studies on the epidemiology of child infections in the Bari area (South Italy) VII. Epidemiology of Epstein-Barr virus infections

✍ Scribed by G. Leogrande; E. Jirillo

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 399 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0393-2990
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00157392

✦ Synopsis

Serological patterns against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) specific antigens were determined in 3732 healthy babies and children aged 0-10 years living in the Bad area (South Italy).

IgG antibodies against EBV capsid antigen (VCA) were found in 2713 subjects (72.7%). Seropositivity rates, high in the first semester of life (83.8%), declined between 6 and 12 months (65.60/0) and even further between 1 and 2 years (43.80/0). After 2 years the frequency of positive children rose progressively reaching steady levels between 5 and 7 years (80.20/0) and between 8 and 10 years (81.9%).

IgA antibodies against VCA, IgG anti-early viral antigen (EA) and IgG against virus-associated 0 0 0 nuclear antigens (EBNA) were found in 17.9 Y0, 15.9 Y0 and 25.7 Y0 of the subjects tested, respectively. IgM anti-VCA were found only in 35 (0.90/0) children, but 818 (21.9%) exhibited antibody patterns suggestive of a recent infection: IgG anti-VCA _> 1:160 alone or in association with IgA anti-VCA or IgG anti-EA or both.

These results suggest that in this area the primary infection by EBV occur early in life, with immunity to EBV acquired primarily after 4 years.