The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in human pathology. II. Serologic profiles of EBV infections.

Antibodies to EBV induced intracellular antigens, (VCA, EA, NA) and VCA-IgM antibodies have been investigated to define EBV serologic profile of 245 individuals. This profile was a first studied in EBV primary infections. In infectious mononucleosis, the efficiency of EBV serodiagnosis is lower than Paul Bunnel Davidsohn reaction (PBD) : primary infection profile is only characterised in 80% of the positive PBD infectious mononucleosis (IM). On the other hand, EBV antibodies are preponderant for diagnosis in other clinical manifestations of EBV primary-infection were PBD is not alwasy positive (47%). EBV antibodies of patients with various diseases and antibodies of normal subjects show different profiles. By interpretation of these profiles one discuss the possibility to characterize reinfection, and either latent or active persistant infection.