Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects about 90% of adults worldwide. It is the main cause of infectious mononucleosis, which is observed most frequently in adolescents. The disease can last several weeks and is characterized by lymphocytosis, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, and fatigue. Exposure to oral secretions during deep kissing has been identified as the major source for primary EBV infection in adolescents. Oral secretions are also thought to be the source for younger children through intimate intact or sharing food and eating utensils, although this has not been confirmed. Unlike most acute viral illnesses such as influenza, the incubation period of symptomatic primary EBV infection is unusually long, lasting about six weeks. Diagnosis is typically made by heterophile antibody tests and/or EBV-specific antibody tests. Long-term consequences may result from acquisition of the virus, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphomas. Nevertheless, there remains a surprising dearth of knowledge regarding the establishment of an immune response to persistent EBV infection, especially during the incubation period. This lack of knowledge has impaired our ability to develop an effective prophylactic EBV vaccine, despite various attempts. Our greatest challenges in EBV research are to develop a prophylactic vaccine and devise treatment strategies for persons already infected with EBV.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 84-92 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Virology |
| Volume | 102 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Immune responses
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Mono
- Primary infection
- Vaccine
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Review
Cite this
Primary Epstein-Barr virus infection. / Dunmire, Samantha K.; Verghese, Priya S.; Balfour, Henry H.
In: Journal of Clinical Virology, Vol. 102, 01.05.2018, p. 84-92.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Primary Epstein-Barr virus infection
AU - Dunmire, Samantha K.
AU - Verghese, Priya S.
AU - Balfour, Henry H.
PY - 2018/5/1
Y1 - 2018/5/1
N2 - Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects about 90% of adults worldwide. It is the main cause of infectious mononucleosis, which is observed most frequently in adolescents. The disease can last several weeks and is characterized by lymphocytosis, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, and fatigue. Exposure to oral secretions during deep kissing has been identified as the major source for primary EBV infection in adolescents. Oral secretions are also thought to be the source for younger children through intimate intact or sharing food and eating utensils, although this has not been confirmed. Unlike most acute viral illnesses such as influenza, the incubation period of symptomatic primary EBV infection is unusually long, lasting about six weeks. Diagnosis is typically made by heterophile antibody tests and/or EBV-specific antibody tests. Long-term consequences may result from acquisition of the virus, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphomas. Nevertheless, there remains a surprising dearth of knowledge regarding the establishment of an immune response to persistent EBV infection, especially during the incubation period. This lack of knowledge has impaired our ability to develop an effective prophylactic EBV vaccine, despite various attempts. Our greatest challenges in EBV research are to develop a prophylactic vaccine and devise treatment strategies for persons already infected with EBV.
AB - Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects about 90% of adults worldwide. It is the main cause of infectious mononucleosis, which is observed most frequently in adolescents. The disease can last several weeks and is characterized by lymphocytosis, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, and fatigue. Exposure to oral secretions during deep kissing has been identified as the major source for primary EBV infection in adolescents. Oral secretions are also thought to be the source for younger children through intimate intact or sharing food and eating utensils, although this has not been confirmed. Unlike most acute viral illnesses such as influenza, the incubation period of symptomatic primary EBV infection is unusually long, lasting about six weeks. Diagnosis is typically made by heterophile antibody tests and/or EBV-specific antibody tests. Long-term consequences may result from acquisition of the virus, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphomas. Nevertheless, there remains a surprising dearth of knowledge regarding the establishment of an immune response to persistent EBV infection, especially during the incubation period. This lack of knowledge has impaired our ability to develop an effective prophylactic EBV vaccine, despite various attempts. Our greatest challenges in EBV research are to develop a prophylactic vaccine and devise treatment strategies for persons already infected with EBV.
KW - Epstein-Barr virus
KW - Immune responses
KW - Infectious mononucleosis
KW - Mono
KW - Primary infection
KW - Vaccine
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042909110&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jcv.2018.03.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jcv.2018.03.001
M3 - Review article
VL - 102
SP - 84
EP - 92
JO - Journal of Clinical Virology
JF - Journal of Clinical Virology
SN - 1386-6532
ER -