Resumo

CHACON DE PETROLA, M. R et al. Citomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus prevalence in Valencia, Venezuela.. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2002, vol.22, n.2, pp.131-135. ISSN 1315-2556.

Abstract Introduction: Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can infect humans at early ages: Overall, 90% of the world's population carry these herpesvirus, establishing a lifelong silent infection. They showed an epidemiological pattern related with socioeconomic level. Objective: To determine the prevalence of anti IgG and IgM of EBV and CMV in a population younger than 25 years of age. Methods: The study was done according with Good Clinical Practices: an informed consent was obtained. Two hundred and ten subjects in good health were included and stratified by age: I: Children < 28 days; II.- Between 1 to eleven months. III: 12 -23 months. IV.- 24 - 48 months. V.- 5 - 10 years. VI: 11 - 16 years. VII: 16 - 24 years. The IgG and IgM were determined by ELISA technique. Results: IgM CMV and EBV showed two peaks: the first one occurred in children younger than a year (group II) for both virus, with a maximum percentage of 23.3% and 6.6% respectively, the second one, started after eleven years for CMV and sixteen years for EBV. All the newborn were positive for both IgG, CMV and EBV, and they decreased slowly, until 33% at twelve months of age for CMV and less than 20% for EBV . After this age, a progressive increase of IgG was observed, with 80% of positivity near four years of age for CMV (group IV) and later (group V) for EBV. The increase of IgG CMV 's titers in the population was observed earlier in the female (group IV) than in the male (group V) with higher titers for the first one started at five years of age. Conclusion. CMV and EBV infection are highly prevalent among the population studied; CMV infection occurs before the first year of life and EBV after that. 80% of seroprevalence is achieved after four years for both viruses

Palavras-chave : Prevalencia; citomegalovirus; virus Epstein-Barr.