Heterophile Antibodies Amongst Normal University of Benin Undergraduate Students

Abstract:

The Paul-Bunnel presumptive test for infectious mononucleosis was used to determine the incidence of Heterophile antibodies in sera of under-graduate students of University of Benin. A high incidence (71.6%) of heterophile antibodies in sera of those subjects is reported. Significant heterophile antibody titer of 1 in 80 and above was obtained in 5.9% of subjects. Female had a higher incidence of heterophile antibodies (75.9%) than males (66.7). The age groups 25 - 29 years had the highest incidence (78.5%) of heterophile antibodies. Serological testing of patients blood was necessary to distinguish the clinical symptoms of infectious mononucleosis from those of other infectious diseases such as influenza, rubella and hepatitis. Our findings are of public health importance.