Evaluation of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays with Two Synthetic Peptides of Epstein-Barr Virus for Diagnosis of Infectious Mononucleosis

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Abstract
To diagnose infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a peptide from the EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) 1 (p107) and an EBNA2 peptide (polyproline)were used as antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for IgG and IgM. Well-characterized serum samples (360) from healthy individuals and patients with EBV or cytomegalovirus infections were examined. The p107 IgG and IgM assays were also tested with serum from 1000 patients with suspected EBV-related disorders. The p107 and polyproline IgG assays were 100% specific for EBV seropositivity. Low p107 IgG titers <1000) were found in 98%of patients with EBV infectious mononucleosis but also in 18%of patients with other diseases. A p107-to-polyproline IgG ratio of <1 was 98% specific for EBV infectious mononucleosis; sensitivity was 86%. In EBV capsid antigen-IgG seropositive patients, a p107 IgG titer of <1000 together with a p107 IgG-to-IgM ratio of <1 was 98% sensitive and specific for EBV infectious mononucleosis. Thus, this ratio appears adequate to measure EBNA antibodies for diagnosis of EBV mononucleosis.