DETECTION OF CELL-FREE EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS DNA IN SERUM DURING ACUTE INFECTIOUS-MONONUCLEOSIS

Infectious Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is shed from the oropharynx of inf ected hosts intermittently throughout life, but in the peripheral circ ulation the viral genome characteristically maintains itself in a noni nfectious, cell-associated form. Sera from 125 persons with heterophil -positive acute infectious mononucleosis or EBV-associated nasopharyng eal carcinoma or who were healthy virus carriers were examined for evi dence of cell-free viral DNA. EBV DNA suggesting viremia was detected in 11 (27%) of 41 infectious mononucleosis patients by polymerase chai n reaction analysis but infrequently in healthy seropositive carriers and patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In serial samples examined from 2 patients, serum EBV DNA was detected over a 3-day interval. Vi ral DNA was found in concert with one serologic marker of acute infect ion, EBV-specific polymeric IgA, that could affect patterns of viral s pread and clinical symptomatology.