ArticleBMC infectious diseases2023
Epstein-Barr virus reactivation is not causative for post-COVID-19-syndrome in individuals with asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 disease course.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- T-cell repertoire response in individuals with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Patients Suffering From Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Feature Enhanced Antibody Reactivity Towards Specific Linear Epitopes Within EBV EBNA1.Scandinavian journal of immunology · 2026Article
- Does Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Represent a Poly-Herpesvirus Post-Virus Infectious Disease?Viruses · 2025Review
- Long-Term Retrospective Analysis of Parvovirus B19 Infections in Blood Donors (2012-2024): Significant Increase in Prevalence Following the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- From Viral Infection to Malignancy: The Dual Threat of EBV and COVID-19 in Cancer Development.Viruses · 2025Review
- Immunological and Clinical Markers of Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19: Insights from Mild and Severe Cases 6 Months Post-infection.European journal of immunology · 2025Article
- Human herpesvirus reactivation and its potential role in the pathogenesis of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.GeroScience · 2025Review
- Article
- High Somatization Rates, Frequent Spontaneous Recovery, and a Lack of Organic Biomarkers in Post-Covid-19 Condition.Brain and behavior · 2024Article
- Postacute Sequelae of COVID (PASC or Long COVID): An Evidenced-Based Approach.Open forum infectious diseases · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
16 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
purposePost-COVID-19-Syndrome (PCS) frequently occurs after an infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the understanding of causative mechanisms is still limited. Aim of this study was to determine the PCS rate among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive blood donors as representatives of supposedly healthy adults, who had experienced an asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 disease course, and to examine whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is reactivated in individuals reporting PCS.
methodsThe PCS rate was determined using questionnaires that included questions about infection and persistent symptoms. Pre-pandemic blood samples and samples collected at regular, pre-defined times after a SARS-CoV-2 infection were analysed for neopterin, a marker for antiviral immune responses, by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, we determined the rate of SARS-CoV-2 anti-N total antibodies using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect EBV DNA and ECLIA screening for EBV viral capsid-antigen (VCA) IgM, IgG and EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA) IgG were performed.
resultsOur data reveal that 18% of all infections result in PCS, with symptoms lasting for up to one year. In individuals reporting PCS, no elevated levels of neopterin were detected, indicating no persisting pro-inflammatory, antiviral immune response. SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels were declining in all participants in comparable manner over time, pointing to a successful virus clearance. In individuals with PCS, no EBV DNA could be detected. Furthermore, no differences in EBV specific antibody levels could be shown in PCS groups compared to non-PCS groups.
conclusionOur data suggest that PCS in per se healthy, immunocompetent adults cannot be ascribed to a reactivation of EBV.
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Registered trials
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