Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
J Med Virol. 2010 Mar;82(3):446-51. doi: 10.1002/jmv.21704.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a persisting herpesvirus which is controlled by the adaptive immune response after primary infection and maintained in a latent state. However, reactivation or persistent replication is observed in situations where the immune response is compromised. Since intensive physical training has been reported to diminish immune function, increased EBV load may be a cause of reduced performance and decreased ability to sustain high training loads in competitive athletes. Samples drawn from 209 athletes during their regular follow-up appointments were tested. One hundred sixty-five individuals of similar age not active in competitive sports served as case-controls. EBV load was quantified in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) by real-time PCR, and EBV antibodies were detected in plasma by ELISA and immunoblot analysis. EBV DNA was detectable in 25 of 209 athletes and in 26 of 165 controls. Of note, the EBV load per 10(5) PBLs was 6.44 +/- 1.75 in the case and 1.67 +/- 0.44 copies in the controls, yielding a high significant difference (P < 0.0001). However, EBV-specific IgG titers were significantly lower in athletes (150.4 +/- 10.73 U ml(-1) vs. 241.6 +/- 18.59 U ml(-1)). As monitored by immunoblotting, primary infections were detected with low prevalence, three in the case group and one in the control group. These findings demonstrate that EBV is present at higher levels in athletes, but the antibody response is lower in athletes than in the controls. J. Med. Virol. 82:446-451, 2010. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
爱泼斯坦-巴尔病毒（EBV）是一种持续存在的疱疹病毒，在初次感染后被适应性免疫反应所控制，并保持潜伏状态。然而，在免疫反应受损的情况下，会观察到病毒的再激活或持续复制。由于高强度的体能训练已被报道会降低免疫功能，因此 EBV 载量的增加可能是竞技运动员运动表现下降和无法承受高强度训练负荷的原因之一。在运动员的定期随访中抽取了 209 名运动员的样本进行检测。165 名年龄相仿、不参加竞技运动的个体作为病例对照。通过实时 PCR 在外周血白细胞（PBL）中定量 EBV 载量，并通过 ELISA 和免疫印迹分析在血浆中检测 EBV 抗体。在 209 名运动员中有 25 名和 165 名对照中有 26 名可检测到 EBV DNA。值得注意的是，病例组中每 105 PBL 的 EBV 载量为 6.44 ± 1.75，对照组为 1.67 ± 0.44 拷贝，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.0001）。然而，运动员的 EBV 特异性 IgG 滴度显著较低（150.4 ± 10.73 U ml-1对 241.6 ± 18.59 U ml-1）。通过免疫印迹监测，发现低流行率的原发性感染，病例组 3 例，对照组 1 例。这些发现表明 EBV 在运动员中存在更高水平，但运动员的抗体反应低于对照组。J. Med. Virol. 82:446-451, 2010. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
