title: Failure to acquire Epstein-Barr virus infection after intimate exposure to the virus.
abstract: In 1981, 54 Epstein-Barr virus-seronegative pregnant women in the Sacramento-Davis area of California were observed prospectively for an average duration of 12.1 months for Epstein-Barr virus-seroconversion. Only one seroconverted. Two of the 54 women remained negative for Epstein-Barr virus antibody 4.5-5.0 months after their husbands were proved to be Epstein-Barr virus excreters. Short of experimental pharyngeal introduction of the virus into human volunteers, these data provide the most direct evidence possible that the intimate exposure of Epstein-Barr virus-seronegative adults to the virus does not necessarily result in infection.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies