Comparison of Methods Used for the Diagnosis of Epstein-Barr Virus Infections in Children

Abstract

The accurate diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections is important, as many other infectious agents or diseases can cause similar symptoms. In this study, sera of pediatric patients who were suspected to have an EBV infection, were sent to Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology, and investigated by IFA, ELISA, immunoblotting and Real-time PCR. The performances of these tests were compared with IFA. The rates of agreement between ELISA and IFA were found as 100% for seronegative, 100% for acute primary infection, 22.2% for late primary infection, 92.1% for past infection. The rates of agreement between immunoblotting and IFA were found as 80.8% for seronegative, 68.8% for acute primary infection, 55.6% for late primary infection, 86.6% for past infection. The sensitivity of immunoblotting for anti-VCA IgM was identical with ELISA, and higher for anti-VCA IgG, anti-EBNA IgG, anti-EA antibodies, while the specificity of immunoblotting for these antibodies were found to be lower. The sensitivity and specificity of Real-time PCR for detection of viremia in acute primary infection were found as 56.25% (9/16) and 97.89% (139/142), respectively. The diagnostic methods should be chosen by evaluating the demographic characteristics of patients and laboratory conditions together.

Epstein-Barr Virus and Systemic Autoimmune Diseases

“…The presence of EBV nucleic acid material in infected persons can be determined by numerous methods, e.g. by direct sequencing, fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of blood samples for EBV-derived DNA or RNA, while (prior) infection/reactivation may also be demonstrated by PCR analysis of saliva (86)(87)(88)(89)(90)(91). In relation to testing of EBV in biopsy tissues, molecular detection of EBVencoded RNA transcripts by FISH remains the gold standard.…”

Characteristics of primary Epstein–Barr virus infection disease spectrum and its reactivation in children, in Suzhou, China

“…Molecular biological detection has become an essential tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of EBV infection and disease in immunocompromised hosts 9 . Previous studies 10,11 have indicated that serological and molecular biological tests should be used complementarily to diagnose the EBV infection status of patients.…”

“…7,8 Molecular biological detection has become an essential tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of EBV infection and disease in immunocompromised hosts. 9 Previous studies 10,11 have indicated that serological and molecular biological tests should be used complementarily to diagnose the EBV infection status of patients. This study combined serological and molecular biological assays with an aim of tracking the characteristics of primary EBV infection disease spectrum and reactivation in children, and further assessing the possible influencing factors of severe EBV-related diseases.…”

A combined antibody and DNA assay for EBV infection in children

“…DNA testing is direct evidence of EBV infection and compensates for the shortage of EBV-specific antibody testing ( 7 ), but DNA testing is effective only when the virus is active. Most previous studies were only conducted through a single antibody or DNA detection method, which leads to misdiagnosis.…”

“…DNA testing is direct evidence of EBV infection and compensates for the shortage of EBV-specific antibody testing (7), but DNA testing is effective only when the virus is active. Most previous studies were only conducted through The cumulative infection rate of EBV in children in this study was 54.0%, which was lower than the EBV infection rate (84.93%) of 3,277 Jilin children as reported by Pan (8).…”