Contribution to rapid diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis

By indirect immunofluorescence (IF) technique humoral antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen (EB-VCA) and to cytomegalovirus (CMV) were detected in 47% and 9% of persons with infectious mononucleosis (IM), respectively. In 23% of the patients examined, IgM antibodies to both viruses were detected, while in 8% of them high titres of IgG only were found in the absence of IgM class antibodies to EB-VCA or to CMV. The finding of IgM antibody to EB-VCA was in good correlation with the persisting symptoms of the disease. Discrepancy between the presence of specific IgM and the absence of heterophilic antibodies was observed in some children and in all persons with persistent or recurrent signs of IM. In the latter, specific IgM was found only during exacerbation of the disease, but during remissions IgG antibodies persisted in high levels. Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA) were detected in all chronically ill persons and antibodies to the R-component of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EA) were present in the majority of them.