Evolution of EBV seroprevalence and primary infection age in a French hospital and a city laboratory network, 2000–2016

Abstract

BackgroundAccording to rare studies, the age at EBV primary infection (PI) has recently risen in some developed countries. A later age at infection is generally considered a risk factor for severe EBV PI, although few studies exist on this subject. Our investigation aimed to determine whether EBV seroprevalence and EBV PI epidemiology have evolved in France, and to what extent age and infection intensity (regarding biological parameters) are correlated.Methods and findingsWe conducted a retrospective study of the following EBV serological tests databases: tests carried out at Grenoble University Hospital (2000–2016) (n = 53,553); and tests carried out by a network of city laboratories in Grenoble area (2008–2015) (n = 27,485). The hospital population showed a continuous, significant decrease in EBV seroprevalence over the studied period for patients aged 20 and over (p<0.01). The seroprevalence also decreased for different age classes (<10, 15–19, 20–30, and 30–40 years old) over the periods 2001–2005, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015. Consistently, the age at PI was significantly higher in the years 2008–2015 than in the years 2001–2007 (15.6±12.0 vs. 13.7±11.0; p = 0.03). The city laboratory population showed the same trend of decreasing seroprevalence (p = 0.06); no significant variations in age at PI were observed. The age at PI was positively correlated with ASAT, ALAT, γGT, and bilirubin blood levels (p<0.01) and negatively correlated with platelet counts (p<0.05).ConclusionIn the last 15 years, the age at EBV PI has increased, whereas seroprevalence has decreased. Moreover, our findings confirm the positive correlation between age and biological abnormalities. Taken together, these results suggest that the incidence of severe EBV PI will increase in the future.

Prevalence of human herpesviruses infections in nonmalignant tonsils: The SPLIT study

“…Seroepidemiologic studies are also compatible with the findings in the present study, with reported high seroprevalence (80%‐90%) in immunocompetent adults, and lower seroprevalence in children . It has, however, to be noted that data on EBV prevalence in the general population are relatively rare, and a change in EBV epidemiology has been reported over the last decades in high‐income countries with decreasing overall EBV prevalence and increasing age of primary infection . The relatively high prevalence in tonsils is coherent with the fact that EBV is known to infect the intraepithelial B cells of the tonsils where it may establish latent infection .…”

“…14,45 It has, however, to be noted that data on EBV prevalence in the general population are relatively rare, and a change in EBV epidemiology has been reported over the last decades in high-income countries with decreasing overall EBV prevalence and increasing age of primary infection. 18,[44][45][46] The relatively high prevalence in tonsils is coherent with the fact that EBV is known to infect the intraepithelial B cells of the tonsils where it may establish latent infection. 2,47 Indeed, one specificity of the tonsil brushing protocol used is the high amount of retrieved lymphocytes.…”

Epstein‐Barr virus associated smooth muscle tumors in solid organ transplant recipients: Incidence over 31 years at a single institution and review of the literature

“…This raises the possibility of geographic, ethnic or genetic differences that impact the risk of post‐transplant EBV‐SMT, but this remains speculative at this time. The seroprevalence of EBV in children and adults and the age‐specific risk of primary EBV infection in our transplant population is similar to that reported in the general population of the United States and Western Europe . In contrast Asian populations appear to acquire EBV earlier and more frequently in childhood and appear to have an increased susceptibility to a number of EBV‐associated malignancies .…”

The Positivity Rate of Epstein-Barr Virus Anti-Viral Capsid Antigen IgG among Children with Infectious Mononucleosis in Diyala-Iraq

“…Chabay and Preciado (2013) reported that the anti-VCA IgG prevalence among children less than 15 years of age in Argentina was 72% [10]. Similar results were also found in most previous studies [8] [11] [12]. Epstein-Barr virus infection is very common in the United States since more than 90% of adults are antibody positive by the age of 35 years.…”