Epstein-Barr virus genomic sequences and specific antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid in children with neurologic complications of acute and reactivated EBV infections

J Med Virol. 1993 Aug;40(4):278-84. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890400405.

Abstract

Four children with infectious mononucleosis (IM) and one with reactivated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection had concomitant central nervous system disorders. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from all five patients contained EBV genomic sequences and EBV-specific antibodies in the neurologic stage, but not during convalescence. Cerebrospinal fluid from two non-neurologic IM patients had neither EBV DNA nor EBV antibodies. The EBV-positive CSF of the five with neurological disorders were aseptic in culture and all negative for other human herpesvirus DNAs and antibodies: herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus, and human herpesvirus 6. Epstein-Barr virus DNA and EBV antibodies were not detected in the CSF of 17 EBV-seropositive patients with mumps meningitis, rubella encephalitis, unknown febrile convulsion, or partial epilepsy. It is suggested that EBV plays a causal role in neurologic manifestations in patients with acute and reactivated EBV infections, through direct viral invasion and immunopathological reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Antibodies, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Base Sequence
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Female
  • Herpesviridae Infections / microbiology*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Infant
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Meningoencephalitis / microbiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Virus Infections / microbiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • DNA, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G