title: [A serological survey of Epstein-Barr virus infection in children in Beijing].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in urban and rural areas of Beijing using the serological method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 589 serum samples were collected from children in Beijing urban and rural areas who were 0--14 years old and tested with Viron-Seron ELISA classic EBV virus capsid antigen IgG antibody (EBV VCA IgG) kit. Optical density of serum samples was obtained at the wavelength of 405 nanometers. Sero-positive or negative samples were determined according to standard curve and cut-off attached in ELISA classic EBV VCA IgG kits. The activity of EBV VCA IgG was calculated by using special formula. The percentage and activity of EBV VCA IgG from Beijing children were compared with SPSS 13.0 between the urban and rural areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of EBV VCA IgG seropositive samples was 83.6%, and 80.8% in those from urban and 86.2% in those from rural areas. The peak value of EBV infection was 71% seen among children under the age of 3 years, and in urban area the rate was 67.7%, which was lower than that in the rural area (75.3%), and was 82.5% by the age of 6, which was lower than the data (up to 90%) reported 30 years ago. There was a significant difference in EBV infection rate and VCA IgG activities in children at different ages between urban and rural areas (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of EBV infection in children living in urban area was lower by the age of 6 years. The primary infection of EBV occurred late in part of children lived in urban area.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100052, China.
authors.forename: Hai-jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hong-tu
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shao-bing
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Zhi-yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Nai-ying
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen; D007074:Immunoglobulin G