Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in healthy children and adolescents in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

The prevalence and age distribution of Epstein-Barr virus infection varies in different populations and there is little information about the epidemiology of this infection in Brazil. We studied the prevalence of EBV antibodies in a sample of 283 children and adolescents between 1 and 21 years old....

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Main Authors: Cecília M. Figueira-Silva, Fausto E.L. Pereira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2004-10-01
Series:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822004000500008&tlng=en
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author Cecília M. Figueira-Silva
Fausto E.L. Pereira
author_facet Cecília M. Figueira-Silva
Fausto E.L. Pereira
author_sort Cecília M. Figueira-Silva
collection DOAJ
description The prevalence and age distribution of Epstein-Barr virus infection varies in different populations and there is little information about the epidemiology of this infection in Brazil. We studied the prevalence of EBV antibodies in a sample of 283 children and adolescents between 1 and 21 years old. The sample was taken from two neighborhoods in Vitória (capital city of Espirito Santo, Brazil). The São Pedro (SP) neighborhood represented an area with lower socioeconomic status and the Praias (P) neighborhood represented an area with higher SES. Anti-VCA (Virus Capsid Antigen) antibodies were detected by ELISA and anti-EBNA (Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen) antibodies were detected by an anti-complement immunofluorescence method, both using commercial kits. The results showed an overall prevalence rates of anti-VCA and anti-EBNA of 71% and 54% respectively. The prevalence for both anti-EBV antibodies was higher and probably the infection occurred earlier in the SP neighborhood. Among the various socioeconomic factors studied only low family income and maternal education level were significantly correlated with a higher frequency of positive serology for anti-VCA. These results demonstrate that there is a high prevalence of EBV antibodies in children and adolescents living in Vitória, that occurs more frequently at a younger age in children from families with low socioeconomic status. In addition, the results demonstrate an intermediate age distribution pattern between those reported in developed and underdeveloped countries.
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spelling doaj.art-6940c4bf5205468cb67c75462d1b6b762022-12-22T00:31:22ZengSociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical1678-98492004-10-01375409412Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in healthy children and adolescents in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, BrazilCecília M. Figueira-Silva0Fausto E.L. Pereira1Universidade Federal do Espírito SantoUniversidade Federal do Espírito SantoThe prevalence and age distribution of Epstein-Barr virus infection varies in different populations and there is little information about the epidemiology of this infection in Brazil. We studied the prevalence of EBV antibodies in a sample of 283 children and adolescents between 1 and 21 years old. The sample was taken from two neighborhoods in Vitória (capital city of Espirito Santo, Brazil). The São Pedro (SP) neighborhood represented an area with lower socioeconomic status and the Praias (P) neighborhood represented an area with higher SES. Anti-VCA (Virus Capsid Antigen) antibodies were detected by ELISA and anti-EBNA (Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen) antibodies were detected by an anti-complement immunofluorescence method, both using commercial kits. The results showed an overall prevalence rates of anti-VCA and anti-EBNA of 71% and 54% respectively. The prevalence for both anti-EBV antibodies was higher and probably the infection occurred earlier in the SP neighborhood. Among the various socioeconomic factors studied only low family income and maternal education level were significantly correlated with a higher frequency of positive serology for anti-VCA. These results demonstrate that there is a high prevalence of EBV antibodies in children and adolescents living in Vitória, that occurs more frequently at a younger age in children from families with low socioeconomic status. In addition, the results demonstrate an intermediate age distribution pattern between those reported in developed and underdeveloped countries.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822004000500008&tlng=enEpstein-Barr virusInfectious mononucleosisEBV antibodies
spellingShingle Cecília M. Figueira-Silva
Fausto E.L. Pereira
Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in healthy children and adolescents in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil
Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Epstein-Barr virus
Infectious mononucleosis
EBV antibodies
title Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in healthy children and adolescents in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil
title_full Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in healthy children and adolescents in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil
title_fullStr Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in healthy children and adolescents in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in healthy children and adolescents in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil
title_short Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in healthy children and adolescents in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil
title_sort prevalence of epstein barr virus antibodies in healthy children and adolescents in vitoria state of espirito santo brazil
topic Epstein-Barr virus
Infectious mononucleosis
EBV antibodies
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822004000500008&tlng=en
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