Volume 61, Issue 2 pp. 235-240
Full Access

Epstein-Barr virus reactivation associated with diminished cell-mediated immunity in Antarctic expeditioners

Satish K. Mehta

Satish K. Mehta

Enterprise Advisory Services Inc., Houston, Texas

Search for more papers by this author
Duane L. Pierson

Corresponding Author

Duane L. Pierson

NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas

Life Sciences Research Laboratories, Mail Code SD3, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058===Search for more papers by this author
Helen Cooley

Helen Cooley

Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Search for more papers by this author
Robin Dubow

Robin Dubow

Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Search for more papers by this author
Desmond Lugg

Desmond Lugg

Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

Work was carried out at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses were followed in 16 Antarctic expeditioners during winter-over isolation at 2 Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition stations. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin testing was used as an indicator of the CMI response, that was evaluated 2 times before winter isolation and 3 times during isolation. At all 5 evaluation times, 8 or more of the 16 subjects had a diminished CMI response. Diminished DTH was observed on every test occasion in 4/16 subjects; only 2/16 subjects exhibited normal DTH responses for all 5 tests. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to detect EBV DNA in saliva specimens collected before, during, and after the winter isolation. EBV DNA was present in 17% (111/642) of the saliva specimens; all 16 subjects shed EBV in their saliva on at least 1 occasion. The probability of EBV shedding increased (P = 0.013) from 6% before or after winter isolation to 13% during the winter period. EBV appeared in saliva during the winter isolation more frequently (P < 0.0005) when DTH response was diminished than when DTH was normal. The findings indicate that the psychosocial, physical, and other stresses associated with working and living in physical isolation during the Antarctic winter result in diminished CMI and an accompanying increased reactivation and shedding of latent viruses. J. Med. Virol. 61:235–240, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.