ABSTRACT
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was discovered in 1964 by Epstein and Barr in association with Burkitt’s lymphoma tissue.1 In 1968, it was shown to be the virus responsible for infectious mononucleosis.2 Since then, its association with certain cancers and its causative role in lymphoproliferative disorders has been elucidated.3-7 It is a member of the human herpesvirus family, which comprises large DNA viruses with homologies in their nucleotide sequences and include herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and the human herpesviruses 6 and 7. Like other herpesviruses, EBV infects and establishes a persistent latent infection in the host.8 In the immunocompetent host, primary infection may be asymptomatic or a self-limited lymphoproliferative syndrome known as infectious mononucleosis. Primary infection with EBV usually occurs in childhood. For infants and children, this exposure is usually asymptomatic or manifests as a non-specific upper respiratory tract infection. A primary infection in an adolescent or an adult often causes infectious mononucleosis, characterized by fever, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, and an atypical lymphocytosis. In most cases, individuals who are infected with EBV become lifelong carriers of the virus. By adulthood, 95% of individuals have been infected with and are seropositive for EBV.
