EBV infections in Brazil. I. Occurrence in normal persons, in lymphomas and in leukemias

Comparisons of IF antibody tests with EB3 and Jijoye cells indicated an overall agreement of 80%. However, the Jijoye line results in a higher frequency of positives at 1:10, a higher frequency of elevated titers of 1:160 or more, and a higher geometric mean antibody titer than with EB3 cells. At titers of 1:320 or higher the results with the two lines were quite comparable and are taken as elevated. Antibody to EBV is widely present in sera from Brazilian residents. Infection occurs early in life in the lower socioeconomic groups. In the middle and upper economic groups over 50% have antibody by age 12. In 69 lymphoma cases tested, all except one (Hodgkin's disease) had EBV antibody demonstrable at 1:10 titer or higher. Elevated EBVantibody titers at levels of 1:320 or higher were found in 41.9% of sera from the 43 cases of Hodgkin's disease having antibody and 4 of 8 cases of Burkitt's lymphoma; the geometric mean titers (GMT) were 1:173.4 and 1:246.8 respectively as compared to 1:51.4 in controls. In 13 cases of lymphosarcoma 23.1% had titers of 1:320 or higher and the GMT was 1:104.4. ERV antibody titer was present but not elevated in four cases of reticulosarcoma. Of 43 leukemia patients, one lacked EBV antibody at 1:10. Of the 42 possessing antibody, 31.0% had elevated titers with a GMT of 1:142.5. The highest titers occurred in mute myeloid leukemia.