Abstract

DETECTION OF EPSTEIN–BARR VIRUS AS A POSSIBLE VIRAL CAUSES OF INFECTION MONONUCLEOSIS BY USING POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION IN SUDANESE PATIENT PRESENTING TO MAJOR HOSPITALS IN KHARTOUM STATE, SUDAN

Moustafa B. Ahamed*, Kafi S. K. and Khalid A. Abdelhalim

Abstract

Background: Epstein–Barr virus is members of the human herpesviruses, is common virus that cause infectious mononucleosis (IM) characterized by fever, pharyngitis and lymphadenopathy, EBV infects at least 90% of the world’s population and can persist in a latent form after primary infection. EBV shares with other herpesviruses the property of initial infection of young hosts, establishment of latency and ―reactivation‖ later in life, with variable consequences. The present study conducted to determine the possible viral causes of infectious mononucleosis in Sudanese patients attending major hospital in Khartoum State, Sudan. Materials and Methods: Under aseptic condition, 4 mls of venous blood were collected in sterile EDTA container from 90 patients, 49 with infectious mononucleosis and 41 as a negative control. Then a thin blood film was performed and stained with rapid stain, after that the blood was centrifuged at 1500 RPM for 5 min to obtain plasma the plasma was then transferred to a sterile to eppendorf tube for detection of DNA genome by using PCR (Conventional PCR). Results: The rate of detection of EBV DNA was detected in 11(12.2%) of the cases. Females were more susceptible to be infected with EBV in our study 48 (12.50%) than males 42 (11.90%) The rate of detection EBV genome was higher (16.6%) in the age group more than 50 years. EBV genome detection was slightly higher in females compared to males (12.5% versus 11.9%) respectively. The percentage of EBV detection was higher among patients from Khartoum (12.8%). Using polymerase chain reaction assay has facilitated the rapid detection of EBV DNA in individual specimens and also cost-effective and provides a wider differential diagnosis than do individual assays.

Keywords: Epstein–Barr virus, EBV, herpesviruses, PCR, Infectious mononucleosis.