Lack of association between mannose-binding lectin, acute otitis media andearly Epstein-Barr virus infection among children in Greenland

Low serum levels of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) have been associated with recurrent infections in early childhood. Otitis media (OM) is frequent in G reenlandic children and the first episode of acute OM (AOM) occurs early, a s is the case also with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. We have therefo re investigated the association between MBL genotypes, episodes of AOM, and early EBV infection in 82 community-based, unselected children in Greenlan d. Nasopharyngeal aspirations for EBV and MBL genotype examination, nasopha ryngeal bacterial cultures, and history of AOM episodes were obtained. MBL genotypes were established in 73 specimens: 68% of these were homozygous fo r normal wildtype (AA), and 32% were homozygous or heterozygous for variant alleles that are associated with absence or low MBL serum Level. The allel e frequencies were: A = 0.88, B = 0.08 (codon 54) and D = 0.04 (codon 52). EBV was found in 41 specimens, more often with increasing age, and signific antly related to ethnicity. Presence of variant MBL alleles or EBV infectio n was not associated with AOM, recurrent AOM (rAOM) or age at first AOM epi sode and EBV positive children with homozygosity for the normal MBL genotyp e did not have significantly more episodes of AOM, rAOM or earlier age at t he first AOM episode. MBL genotypes and EBV infection alone or in interplay are not associated,vith the high prevalence of OM in Greenlandic children. The study suggests that Low MBL level does not by itself predispose to AOM in community-based, unselected children.