Author/Authors :
Pourahamad، Morteza نويسنده Department of Internal Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Iran Pourahamad, Morteza , Hooshmand، Farhang نويسنده Department of Pathology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Iran Hooshmand, Farhang , Olyaee Nezhad، Sara نويسنده Medical Student, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Iran Olyaee Nezhad, Sara , Sepidkar، Abdolali نويسنده Department of Surgery, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Iran Sepidkar, Abdolali
Abstract :
Background: Among the eight known human herpes viruses, Epstein - Barr virus (EBV) is considered to be sexually transmissible. This study was conducted to evaluate the seroepidemiology of this infection in married and unmarried Iranian couples.
Methods: In this comparative observational and cross-sectional study, 160 men and women were divided into married and unmarried groups. Serum IgG and IgM antibodies to the EBV viral capsid antigen were analyzed by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs).
Results: In this study 78 men and 82 women were enrolled. Ninety percent of the married and 76.2% of the unmarried women were anti-EBV IgG positive (P = 0.08), while 80% of the married and 94% of the unmarried men were antiEBV IgG positive (P = 0.052).
Conclusion: Seroepidemiology of EBV is not significantly different in married vs. unmarried women and men in Iran; therefore, sexual contact may not be the primary mechanism of EBV transmission in Iran and other developing countries. Attention to other possible routes of transmission is recommended.
