A Prospective Clinical Study of Epstein-Barr Virus and Host Interactions during Acute Infectious Mononucleosis

Henry H Balfour; Carol J.  Holman; Kristin M.  Hokanson; Meghan M.  Lelonek; Jill E.  Giesbrecht; Dana R.  White; David O.  Schmeling; Chiu-Ho  Webb; Winston  Cavert; David H.  Wang; Richard C.  Brundage

doi:10.1086/491740

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A Prospective Clinical Study of Epstein-Barr Virus and Host Interactions during Acute Infectious Mononucleosis

Journal article

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A Prospective Clinical Study of Epstein-Barr Virus and Host Interactions during Acute Infectious Mononucleosis

Henry H Balfour, Carol J. Holman, Kristin M. Hokanson, Meghan M. Lelonek, Jill E. Giesbrecht, Dana R. White, David O. Schmeling, Chiu-Ho Webb, Winston Cavert, David H. Wang, …

The Journal of infectious diseases, Vol.192(9), pp.1505-1512

11/01/2005

DOI: 10.1086/491740

PMID: 16206064

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Abstract

Background. Characterizing virus-host interactions during self-limited infectious mononucleosis could explain how Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) replication is normally controlled and provide insight into why certain immunocompromised patients fail to contain it. Methods. University students had an average of 7 clinical and virologic evaluations during acute infectious mononucleosis. EBV was quantified in 697 samples of oral wash fluid, whole blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and plasma by a real-time (TaqMan) polymerase chain reaction (qEBV) assay developed in our laboratory. Results. Twenty of 25 subjects had serologically confirmed primary EBV infection. EBV was cleared from whole blood by a first-order process with a median half-life of 3 days, and its quantity was associated with severity of illness (r2=0.82). Oral shedding persisted at a median of ⩾1×104 copies/mL for 32 weeks and was unrelated to severity of illness. Subjects with nonprimary EBV infection shed virus intermittently, and median quantities for all samples became undetectable within 4 weeks. Conclusions. Using a novel qEBV assay, we demonstrated that young adults with primary EBV infection rapidly cleared virus from blood but not from the oropharynx. High oral concentrations of EBV in asymptomatic persons who have resumed normal activities support the concept that infectious mononucleosis is most likely acquired by kissing.

Details

Title: Subtitle: A Prospective Clinical Study of Epstein-Barr Virus and Host Interactions during Acute Infectious Mononucleosis
Creators: Henry H Balfour - Departments of
Carol J. Holman - Departments of
Kristin M. Hokanson - Departments of
Meghan M. Lelonek - Departments of
Jill E. Giesbrecht - Departments of
Dana R. White - Departments of
David O. Schmeling - Departments of
Chiu-Ho Webb - Departments of
Winston Cavert - Departments of
David H. Wang - Departments of
Richard C. Brundage - Departments of
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Journal of infectious diseases, Vol.192(9), pp.1505-1512
DOI: 10.1086/491740
PMID: 16206064
NLM abbreviation: J Infect Dis
ISSN: 0022-1899
eISSN: 1537-6613
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Language: English
Date published: 11/01/2005
Academic Unit: Pathology
Record Identifier: 9984047790402771

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