PRESENCE OF INFECTIVE EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS IN THE URINE OF PATIENTS WITH INFECTIOUS-MONONUCLEOSIS

The presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the blood and urine of 20 patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) was investigated together with the clinical course of the disease, and in 9 patients up to 2-7 m onths after recovery. EBV DNA, analyzed by the polymerase chain reacti on (PCR), was detected in the blood of all 20 patients from the first sample obtained and detected between 3 to 42 days from the beginning o f symptoms and up to 2-3 months after recovery. In the urine, EBV DNA was detected in 15 out of 16 (93%) patients in the first sample obtain ed and detected between 3 to 50 days during the clinical course of the disease. In four patients EBV DNA was detected in the urine up to 3 m onths after full recovery. Seventeen out of 26 (65%) urine samples inc luding 3 which were obtained 2-7 months after recovery infected B cell s as assessed by PCR. Nine out of 12 (75%) urine samples tested induce d Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) in the infected B-cell line. In addition to the persistence of EBV in the blood of IM patients, these studies show for the first time the presence of infective EBV in the u rine during the clinical course of the disease and up to 7 months afte r full clinical recovery. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.