title: Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus-induced early antigens in blood donors.
abstract: IgG class antibodies to the early antigen complex (EA; D + R components) of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were found by indirect immunofluorescence in titres greater than or equal to 1:10 in 196 (49.4%) out of 397 blood donors and titres greater than or equal to 1:20 in 84 (21.2%) of these subjects. Anti-EA titres of greater than or equal to 1:2560 were detected in 6 sera, anti-EA(D) only in 17 donors (4.3%). Additional EBV-specific antibody tests were performed in sera with anti-EA-IgG titres of greater than or equal to 1:20 (n = 84), including IgM class antibodies to virus capsid antigen (anti-VCA-IgM). Specific IgM revealed active EBV infection in 12 blood donors. There was no correlation between the presence of anti-VCA-IgM and the magnitude of anti-EA-IgG titres. Therefore, it seems to be impossible to define the threshold titre for EA antibodies indicating active EBV infection. For this purpose probably a titre increase should be demonstrated in paired sera.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Medical Academy Erfurt, G.D.R.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wohlrabe
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Färber
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wutzler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uhlig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; C033305:Epstein-Barr virus early antigen