Serological patterns against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) specific antigens were determined in 3732 healthy babies and children aged 0-10 years living in the Bari 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 (65.6%) and even further between 1 and 2 years (43.8%). After 2 years the frequency of positive children rose progressively reaching steady levels between 5 and 7 years (80.2%) and between 8 and 10 years (81.9%). IgA antibodies against VCA, IgG anti-early viral antigen (EA) and IgG against virus-associated nuclear antigens (EBNA) were found in 17.9%, 15.9% and 25.7% of the subjects tested, respectively. IgM anti-VCA were found only in 35 (0.9%) children, but 818 (21.9%) exhibited antibody patterns suggestive of a recent infection: IgG anti-VCA > or = 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.

The presence and titer of neutralizing antibodies against Coxsackie B viruses were investigated in 1,944 children under 15 years of age living in Bari and its area. In 1,781 out of 1,944 sera (91.6%), neutralizing antibodies were present against at least one of the strains tested: 333 (17.1%) samples were found to be positive for one serotype only, 412 (21.2%) for 2 serotypes, 394 (20.3%) for 3, 394 (18.0%) for 4, 199 (10.2%) for 5 and 94 (4.8%) for all 6 strains tested. Of the 1,944 serums examined, 1,043 (53.7%) were found to be positive for type 2, 1,073 (53.3%) for type 5, 991 (51.0%) for type 1, 858 (44.1%) for type 3, 760 (39.1%) for type 4 and 605 (31.1%) for type 6. The rate of positive responses, which was high at birth and in the first months of life (96.7%), diminished between 6 months and 1 year (81.7%) and then rose according to age until it reached 97.7% between 10 and 11 years. After that we observed a considerable reduction in the serological positivities (i.e. 82.3% between 11 and 12 years and 81.5% between 12 and 13 years, respectively).

The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of cytomegalovirus infections among 4,790 infants and children living in the Bari area. Serum antibodies were measured by a microneutralization test. IgM antibodies were measured with a capture immunoenzymatic test. A high incidence of maternally derived antibody was found during the first 6 months of life (92.8%). The positivity rate declined during the second 6 months (86.9%) and between 1 and 4 years (86.6%) and increased again between 4 and 7 years (89.1%), between 7 and 10 years (90.6%) and between 10 and 15 years (91.7%). IgM-specific antibodies were found at a titer of 1:30 or greater in 42 subjects (0.9%) who also exhibited neutralizing antibody titers > or = 1:256. Infection in Bari is characteristic of cytomegalovirus-endemic areas where maternally derived immunity is immediately replaced by immunity due to primary infection.

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Serum titers of anti-rubella antibodies were measured in 4,424 babies and children (aged 0-15 years) and in 2,362 females of childbearing age by a microhemagglutination-inhibition technique. Sera were screened for IgM antibodies with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; positive sera were titrated in a capture immunoenzymatic test. The incidence of serological positive response, high at birth and in the first 6 months of life (65.0%), declined in the older age-groups (60.2% from 6 to 12 months, 57.0% from 1 to 2 years, 54.2% from 2 to 3 years, 55.2% from 3 to 6 years). Over 6 years, the incidence increased progressively (63.9% from 6 to 9 years and 76.1% from 9 to 15 years). In females aged 15-45 years the seronegativity rate was 8.6%. Circulation and transmission of the virus can only be blocked by the attainment and maintenance of high immunization levels. The high incidence of seronegativity among females of childbearing age stresses the importance of pre-marital determination of serological reactivity towards the rubella virus and underlines the importance of vaccination in seronegative women.