Sero-epidemiological patterns of epstein-barr and herpes simplex (HSV-1 and HSV-2) viruses in England and Wales

• Published in: Journal of medical virology 2002-08, Vol.67 (4), p.522-527
• Main Authors: Morris, Marianne C., Edmunds, W. John, Hesketh, Louise M., Vyse, Andrew J., Miller, Elizabeth, Morgan-Capner, Peter, Brown, David W.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; association between viruses; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; England - epidemiology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Epidemiology; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - epidemiology; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - immunology; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - virology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herpes Genitalis - epidemiology; Herpes Genitalis - immunology; Herpes Genitalis - virology; herpes viruses; Herpesvirus 1, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 1, Human - isolation & purification; Herpesvirus 2, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 2, Human - isolation & purification; Herpesvirus 4, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 4, Human - isolation & purification; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Incidence; Infant; Logistic Models; Male; Microbiology; seroprevalence; Sex Distribution; Virology; Wales - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.10132

The aim was to carry out a population‐based sero‐prevalence survey of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) across a wide age range in England and Wales and to identify any associations between EBV and herpes simplex virus types one and two (HSV‐1 and 2). Sera from an age‐stratified sample of 2,893 individuals, submitted for diagnostic purposes to 15 public health laboratories in England and Wales in 1994, were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to EBV. The samples had been tested previously for IgG antibody to HSV‐1 and HSV‐2. The serological profile of EBV was consistent with an endemic infection with peaks in transmission in those less than 5 years old and in young adults. An age adjusted analysis found a significant association between EBV and HSV‐1 seropositivity that is most likely explained by similarities in their mode of transmission. The very low seroprevalence of HSV‐2 in this sample complicated the comparisons of EBV and HSV‐1 with HSV‐2. Any associations were most likely explained by chance. Given the association between EBV and HSV‐1, it is likely that recently documented epidemiological changes in HSV‐1 also apply to EBV. Continuing surveillance of these herpes viruses is necessary as the predicted changes could have a significant public health impact, especially in the young adult population. J. Med. Virol. 67:522–527, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.