This paper is about Epstein-Barr virus infection rather than multiple sclerosis, but it is a major contributor to beliefs that the observed latitude gradient in MS could be explained by a similar latitude gradient in prevalence of seropositivity to EBV. Although EBV seropositivity was more common in southern U.S. states compared to those in the north, the pattern was more consistent with variation in socioeconomic status than with latitude. Surprisingly, this work has never been repeated to better discriminate onset of EBV seropositivity according to socioeconomic or latitudinal factors.
Suggested By Robyn Lucas
This paper is about Epstein-Barr virus infection rather than multiple sclerosis, but it is a major contributor to beliefs that the observed latitude gradient in MS could be explained by a similar latitude gradient in prevalence of seropositivity to EBV. Although EBV seropositivity was more common in southern U.S. states compared to those in the north, the pattern was more consistent with variation in socioeconomic status than with latitude. Surprisingly, this work has never been repeated to better discriminate onset of EBV seropositivity according to socioeconomic or latitudinal factors.