Complement-fixing Antibodies Reactive with Epstein-Barr Virus in Sera of Marmosets and Prosimians

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Abstract
Summary Complement-fixing antibodies reactive with Epstein-Barr (EBV) antigens were detected in 35% of 137 marmoset sera tested. The incidence of these antibodies ranged from 23 to 64% depending on the cohort of imported or colony-born marmosets. Similar antibodies were present in sera of 7 of 13 prosimians. The specificity of the serologic reaction was demonstrated by absorption experiments. Attempts to demonstrate EBV-reactive antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence with labeled antisera to human or rhesus IgG were unsuccessful. The results suggest that these lower primates may be susceptible to experimental EBV infection and could provide a model for the study of the pathogenicity of this virus.