The Epstein-Barr virus(EBV), a common herpes virus group, is associated with several disease, such as infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, many questions remain unknown such as
epidemiology and association with diseases. In Korea, the epidemiologic data of EBV infection in normal subjects is nearly rare.
This study was designed to investigate the rate of EBV infection of normal subjects in Korea. The polymerase chain reaction, more sensitive method than any other for detection of EBV, was used for the detection of EBV.
The leukocyte and nasopharyngeal tissue from 35 subjects were examined for the detection of EBV. The EBV was detected in 390 cases(85.7%) of 35 subjects 5cases/6cases) in child and 86.2%(25cases/29cases0 in adult. EBV was detected 8 cases922.8%)
in
leukocyte alone an 7 cases(20.0%) in nasopharyngeal tissue alone. In both leukocyte and nasopharyngeal tissue, EBV was detected 15 cases942.95).
These results suggest that the detection rate of EBV infection of normal children and adults is very high in korea, and EBV infection begins since early childhood. (Korean J Otolaryngol 39 : 4, 1996)
|