Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15644/asc58/1/7
Epstein - Barr Virus Salivary Shedding in Patients with Acute Infectious Diseases: A Pilot Study
Tomislava Skuhala
; University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Snježana Židovec-Lepej
orcid.org/0000-0001-9852-5806
; University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia
Vladimir Trkulja
; Department of Pharmacology Zagreb University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Leona Radmanić
; University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia
Oktavija Đaković Rode
; University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Bruno Špiljak
; University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Luka Šimunović
; Department of Orthodontics, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Marin Rimac
; University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Anja Dragobratović
; University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widely disseminated herpesvirus for which antibodies have been demonstrated in over 90% of adults worldwide. After subclinical primary EBV infections, as well as after infectious mononucleosis, the virus can be shed in saliva for a prolonged period of time. Aim: Diseases and disorders that can induce EBV salivary shedding include mental disorders and sex, connective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, malaria and HIV infection. Since the occurrence of EBV in saliva during acute infectious diseases has not yet been systematically researched, we aimed to investigate the possible relationship between acute infectious diseases and salivary shedding of EBV. Material and methods: This pilot cross-sectional study included consenting adults hospitalized for acute infectious conditions and their peers free of acute infectious diseases. A total of 40 patients with acute infectious diseases were enrolled, along with 41 adults free of acute infections. Peripheral venous blood samples for serodiagnosis and saliva samples for EBV PCR test-ing were collected from both groups. We fitted logit and general linear models to proportions and to ln (viral copy counts) to generate adjusted proportions and geometric mean values in the two groups of subjects. We used SAS for Windows 9.4. Results: The most common acute infectious disease was COVID-19 pneumonia, followed by hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Crude proportions of peo-ple with positive serological test results and those with saliva viral shedding were similar in the two groups. Conclusions: The presented preliminary data do not indicate acute infectious conditions as a marked “contributor” in increasing salivary EBV shedding.
Keywords
Herpesvirus 4, Human; Virus Shedding; Saliva; Epstein-Barr virus; Acute infectious diseases; Salivary shedding
Hrčak ID:
315356
URI
Publication date:
25.3.2024.
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