EB 病毒 (EBV) 也称作人疱疹病毒IV型,它是约 80%-90% IM 病例的病因。[1]Lajo A, Borque C, Del Castillo F, et al. Mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus in children: a comparative study of 124 cases. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994;13:56-60.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8170733?tool=bestpractice.com[21]Gershburg E, Pagano JS. Epstein-Barr virus infections: prospects for treatment. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2005;56:277-281.http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/56/2/277http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16006448?tool=bestpractice.com 其余无 EB 病毒感染病例中,单核细胞增多症可能是由人疱疹病毒 VI 型 (9%)、巨细胞病毒 (5%-7%)、单纯疱疹病毒 I 型 (6%) 引起,在罕见情况下,可能由化脓性链球菌、弓形虫、HIV-1、腺病毒以及白喉棒状杆菌、土拉弗朗西斯菌、甲型肝炎和乙型肝炎病毒、风疹或肠道病毒引起。该综合征还可能由结缔组织病、恶性肿瘤和药物反应导致。[22]Naito T, Kudo N, Inui A, et al. Causes of infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome in adult patients. Intern Med. 2006;45:833-834.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16880711?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Auwaerter PG. Infectious mononucleosis in middle age. JAMA. 1999;281:454-459.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9952206?tool=bestpractice.com[23]Hurt C, Tammaro D. Diagnostic evaluation of mononucleosis-like illness. Am J Med. 2007;120:e1-e8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17904463?tool=bestpractice.com 许多 EBV 阴性 IM 病例的病因往往仍然未知。[22]Naito T, Kudo N, Inui A, et al. Causes of infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome in adult patients. Intern Med. 2006;45:833-834.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16880711?tool=bestpractice.com
EBV 最常通过唾液传播,因此得名“接吻”病。 一项研究发现,所有因 EBV 所致 IM 的患者均会在发病后从口咽排出病毒长达 6 个月。[24]Fafi-Kremer S, Morand P, Brion JP, et al. Long-term shedding of infectious Epstein-Barr virus after infectious mononucleosis. J Infect Dis. 2005;191:985-989.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15717276?tool=bestpractice.com 一项前瞻性研究发现,24 个具有既往 EBV 感染病史的健康人中有 22 人在唾液中排出病毒达 15 个月。[25]Yao QY, Rickinson AB, Epstein MA. A re-examination of the Epstein-Barr virus carrier state in healthy seropositive individuals. Int J Cancer. 1985;35:35-42.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2981780?tool=bestpractice.com 另外还存在 EB 病毒性传播证据。[26]Higgins CD, Swerdlow AJ, Macsween KF, et al. A study of risk factors for acquisition of Epstein-Barr virus and its subtypes. J Infect Dis. 2007;195:474-482.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17230406?tool=bestpractice.com[27]Thomas R, Macsween KF, McAulay K, et al. Evidence of shared Epstein-Barr viral isolates between sexual partners, and low level EBV in genital secretions. J Med Virol. 2006;78:1204-1209.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16847960?tool=bestpractice.com 有证据表明,在年轻女性中 EBV 血清转换的风险随性伴侣人数的增加而增加。[28]Woodman CB, Collins SI, Vavrusova N, et al. Role of sexual behavior in the acquisition of asymptomatic Epstein-Barr virus infection: a longitudinal study. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2005;24:498-502.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15933558?tool=bestpractice.com 一项研究中发现,在大学的学生中,性交中坚持使用避孕套的学生EBV 感染的风险要比不戴套的学生低。[26]Higgins CD, Swerdlow AJ, Macsween KF, et al. A study of risk factors for acquisition of Epstein-Barr virus and its subtypes. J Infect Dis. 2007;195:474-482.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17230406?tool=bestpractice.com 与唾液相比,由于 EBV 水平在生殖器分泌物中要低得多,性交可能不是最重要的传播途径。[27]Thomas R, Macsween KF, McAulay K, et al. Evidence of shared Epstein-Barr viral isolates between sexual partners, and low level EBV in genital secretions. J Med Virol. 2006;78:1204-1209.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16847960?tool=bestpractice.com 然而,唾液和生殖器分泌物均可视为低效的传播途径。 罕有血液制品、器官移植和子官内传播病例的报道。 从输血获得 EBV 感染的风险极低。 人类(可能涉及所有灵长目动物)是 唯一已知的EBV 宿主。 由于感染患病率高(90% 以上的人在成年时已感染),因此无法识别清楚的危险因素。