title: Racial-ethnic differences in Epstein-Barr virus antibody titers among U.S. children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine racial-ethnic differences in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody levels among U.S. children and adolescents. Elevated titers among seropositive youth can indicate viral reactivation-an indirect measure of impaired cell-mediated immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed using multivariable linear regression accounting for the complex survey design and potential confounders. The sample comprised 4663 black-African American, Mexican American, and white youth aged 6-17 years who were EBV seropositive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EBV antibody levels were significantly higher for black-African American youth compared with their white peers (b = 0.343, P < .0001). Gender-stratified models were consistent with the total sample except differences in EBV antibody levels were greater between black-African American and white males (b = 0.525, P < .0001) than between black-African American and white females (b = 0.169, P = .0185). Differences in EBV antibody levels between Mexican American and white youth were only marginally significant in the total and the gender-stratified samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Black-white differences in EBV antibody levels were found suggesting EBV reactivation and potential disparities in immune function among minority youth. Research on multilevel factors contributing to the disparities is needed, including potential health implications over the life course for minority youth.
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. ford.553@osu.edu
authors.forename: Jodi L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Raymond P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Stowe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000821:virology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral