title: Serological evidence for long-term Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in children living in a holoendemic malaria region of Kenya.
abstract: To study the long term the effects of chronic exposure to P. falciparum malaria on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation in children, EBV-specific antibody levels were measured in a cross-sectional survey of two groups of Kenyan children with divergent malaria exposure, varying in age from 1 to 14 years. A total of 169 children were analyzed within three age groups (1-4 years, 5-9 years and 10-14 years). Using a Luminex assay, elevated levels of IgG to EBV lytic and latent antigens were observed in children from the holoendemic malaria area; these remained elevated for each age group studied. In comparison, children from the sporadic malaria area had lower levels of EBV-specific IgG antibodies and these levels declined across age groups. These data suggest that chronic exposure to malaria may lead to long-term EBV reactivation.
authors.affiliation: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
authors.forename: Erwan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piriou
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kimmel
authors.forename: Kiprotich
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chelimo
authors.forename: Jaap M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Middeldorp
authors.forename: Peter Sumba
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Odada
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ploutz-Snyder
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moormann
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rochford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications*; D014775:Virus Activation
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G