Failure to demonstrate concomitant antibody changes to viral antigens other than Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) during or...

A search for antibody rises to viral antigens other than to Epstein-Barr virus, the causative agent, has been carried out in serial serum samples from 82 patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM). Fourfold or greater rises in titer rarely occurred and did did not cluster in time. No rises occurred to cytomegalovirus, only 1.2 percent to herpes simplex virus, and 8.5 percent to varicella zoster virus. Rises to measles antibody were found in 7.5 percent of patients and to rubella in 10.4 percent; these may represent natural infections or immunizations. A few patients also showed rises to respiratory viruses but there was no apparent connection to IM.