Epstein–Barr virus, latitude and multiple sclerosis

Several lines of evidence support a role for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in the aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). This includes the observation that nearly all MS patients show serological markers of past EBV infection. Given the well-known association between MS prevalence and latitude, we investi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Multiple sclerosis 2013-03, Vol.19 (3), p.362-365
Main Authors: Disanto, Giulio, Pakpoor, Julia, Morahan, Julia M, Hall, Carolina, Meier, Ute C, Giovannoni, Gavin, Ramagopalan, Sreeram V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
Epstein-Barr virus
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - complications
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - epidemiology
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - immunology
Geography
Herpesvirus 4, Human - immunology
Herpesvirus 4, Human - pathogenicity
Humans
Immune response
Infection
Medical sciences
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis - epidemiology
Multiple Sclerosis - etiology
Multiple Sclerosis - virology
Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis
Neurology
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Summary:Several lines of evidence support a role for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in the aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). This includes the observation that nearly all MS patients show serological markers of past EBV infection. Given the well-known association between MS prevalence and latitude, we investigated whether EBV seropositivity also increases with distance from the equator. We found that the proportion of EBV positive individuals is positively associated with latitude independently of MS status (odds ratio = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.09, p = 0.002). Latitude-related factors may be implicated in the immune response to EBV and its role in MS aetiology.
ISSN:1352-4585
1477-0970
DOI:10.1177/1352458512451942