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Epstein‐Barr Virus Infection and Serological Profile in Greenland Eskimo Children
Author(s) -
ALBECK H.,
BILLE T.,
FENGER H. J.,
NARVESTAD U.,
SØRENSEN G. S.,
HENLE G.,
HENLE W.,
NIELSEN N. HØJGAARD,
HANSEN J. P. HART
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1985.tb10015.x
Subject(s) - mononucleosis , serology , medicine , antibody , population , virus , epstein–barr virus , titer , nasopharyngeal carcinoma , immunology , virology , pediatrics , environmental health , radiation therapy
. The Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐specific antibody profile of 101 Greenland Eskimo children was determined. The proportion of children with serological evidence of recent or past primary EBV infections rose from 22 % at 6 months of age to 79 % at 24 months of age. All but 2 of 49 children more than 4 years of age proved seropositive. The geometric mean titre (GMT) of antibodies to the viral capsid antigen (VCA) was highest during the first 3 years of life and declined sharply to a lower, nearly constant level in older children. The GMT of antibodies to the nuclear antigen (EBNA), rose slowly during the first 4 years of life to its persistent level. None of the children had a history of illnesses comparable to infectious mononucleosis. The results have shown that in this population with an enhanced risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, primary EBV infection occurs at a very early age.