Appearance and some unusual features of Epstein-Barr virus antibody production in infectious mononucleosis and other health disorders.

The indirect immunofluorescence (IF) test and the complement-fixation reaction (CFR) were used in examination of over 1500 sera obtained from patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) and other health disorders. The evidence obtained supports a direct aetiological relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and IM and points on a relationship of EBV to some other lymphadenopathies and health disorders. The incidence of the IgG type antibody against virus capsid antigen (EB-VCA) and soluble antigen (CF-SA) obtained from EBV genome-positive cells among different age groups of patients is described along with results of long-term examinations of serum samples from IM patients. The appearance and dynamics of production of both types of EBV antibody and their persistence in the organism varied. Long-lasting oscillations, in particular of the EB-VCA antibody levels were found in sera of patients with prolonged health disorders following IM. The diagnosis value of the IF test and the CFR is discussed.