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

Abstract

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.

Seroprevalence of Anti-EBV IgG among Various Age Groups from Khon Kaen Province, Thailand

“…This pattern has also been observed in other studies and is due to preexisting maternal antibodies active in infants under six-months-old (Leogrande et al, 1993). Longitudinal serological data have shown that maternal anti-EBV protection usually lasts for 3-4 months (Biggar et al, 1978;Chan et al, 2001).…”

Hypothesis: Could Epstein‐Barr virus play a role in the development of gastroschisis?

“…Another coincidence between EBV and gastroschisis is noted in southern Italy. There, a relatively high rate of EBV seropositivity (80%) was observed in 5-to 7-year-old children (Leogrande and Jirillo, 1993), which is almost double what was observed in the United Kingdom during the same time period . Compared with most other parts of Europe, the prevalence of gastroschisis is low in southern Italy (<1 per 10,000 births) and has not been increasing (Calzolari et al, 1993), perhaps owing to lower rates of EBV infection in childbearing women.…”

Epstein-Barr Virus Seroprevalence and Primary Infection at the University Hospital Luigi Vanvitelli of Naples from 2007 to 2017

“…Genetics and family environment could contribute to the acquisition of EBV infection, as suggested by a study from Minnesota in which EBV antibodies prevalence was detected and correlated between brothers [18]. Also, in Southern Italy, EBV PI occurs at an early age, as described in an epidemiological study conducted in Bari, which reported positive EBV IgG in patients >4 years old [19]. …”