Allen Choi1, Kathryn Marcus1, Danielle Pohl1, Patrick Ten Eyck2, Henry Balfour3,4, J Brooks Jackson1. 1. Department of Pathology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. 2. Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. 3. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. 4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the cause of infectious mononucleosis, which disproportionately affects university students. This population has the potential to benefit from a prophylactic EBV vaccine trial. Our objectives were to determine EBV infection status and associated demographic/lifestyle factors among first year undergraduate university students at the beginning and end of first year. METHODS: EBV infection status was assessed by testing for circulating IgG class antibodies against EBV viral capsid antigen. RESULTS: Of 198 starting students; 56.1% were positive for EBV antibodies with a higher rate in women (64.8%) than male (41.1%); p = 0.002. A history of deep kissing was associated with a higher rate of EBV antibody positivity. On follow-up 8 months later at the end of freshman year, 22.4% had acquired EBV antibodies for a primary infection incidence of 33.6/100 person years. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that our first year undergraduate population contains sufficient EBV-naïve subjects for a prophylactic vaccine trial.
OBJECTIVE: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the cause of infectious mononucleosis, which disproportionately affects university students. This population has the potential to benefit from a prophylactic EBV vaccine trial. Our objectives were to determine EBV infection status and associated demographic/lifestyle factors among first year undergraduate university students at the beginning and end of first year. METHODS: EBV infection status was assessed by testing for circulating IgG class antibodies against EBV viral capsid antigen. RESULTS: Of 198 starting students; 56.1% were positive for EBV antibodies with a higher rate in women (64.8%) than male (41.1%); p = 0.002. A history of deep kissing was associated with a higher rate of EBV antibody positivity. On follow-up 8 months later at the end of freshman year, 22.4% had acquired EBV antibodies for a primary infection incidence of 33.6/100 person years. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that our first year undergraduate population contains sufficient EBV-naïve subjects for a prophylactic vaccine trial.
Entities:
Keywords:
EBV antibody; EBV seroprevalence; Epstein-Barr virus; immunity; university first year students
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