Study: Looking for Volunteers with Recent Mono

The MAIL (Mononucleosis in Adults and the Influence of Lifestyle) Study, led by Jaydev Vemulakonda and Dr. Marek Smieja (IIDR member, Professor and Microbiologist/ID physician at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton), is a prospective cohort study to investigate the natural history of oral viral shedding of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) over 12 weeks’ time in a group of adult patients in the Hamilton Area with recent lab-based diagnosis of Infectious Mononucleosis (IM).

This study will also determine if viral loads are correlated with changes in sleep, exercise, and presence of IM symptoms. Participants enrolled will self-collect and mail weekly oral swab samples used to measure EBV levels and complete weekly brief online questionnaires to provide data on their lifestyle factors and IM symptoms. This research could offer insights into EBV shedding and its relationship to lifestyle factors, with potential implications for treatment and preventive strategies.

Further information, a consent form, and a baseline questionnaire can be found here: https://rsjh.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=KXRJN43KCTWW9JL3

Please share this info with all those who may be interested.