title: Epidemiologic study of a leukocyte-transforming agent in a general population.
abstract: Studies by others have demonstrated a leukocyte-transforming agent(s) (LTA) in the oropharyngeal secretions of a significant number of individuals with Epstein-Barr virus-associated infectious mononucleosis, cancer, and, to a lesser extent, an outpatient population. This present study determines by systematic sampling the prevalence of LTA in 27 families of a semirural community. Throat swab inoculums from three of 54 adults and none of 44 children induced transformation of umbilical cord lymphocytes. Complement-dependent Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen was detected in two of the three transformed cell cultures. The three LTA-positive individuals were characterized by the absence of serologic evidence of a recent Epstein-Barr virus infection and the lack of elevated antibodies against the viral capsid antigen of Epstein-Barr virus.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002140:California; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012424:Rural Population; D014470:Umbilical Cord
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral