Epstein-Barr virus in tonsillar tissue of Iranian children with tonsillar hypertrophy: Quantitative measurement by real-time PCR

Background and ObjectivesEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is ubiquitous all around the world. Tonsils seem to be candidate replication sites for EBV, and these tissues can be infected acutely or chronically. Some studies reported an association between EBV infection and tonsillar hypertrophy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the presence and copy number of the EBV genome in tonsil tissue specimens of patients with tonsillar hypertrophy.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed on 50 fresh tonsil tissue samples from children, who underwent tonsillectomy because of tonsillar hypertrophy. Patients' tonsil tissues were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction for EBV genome and viral load. Finally, the results were analyzed using SPSS software.ResultsEBV genome was detected in 58% (29/50) of tonsillar tissues. The relationship between EBV genome detection rate and age groups was in the statistical significance range (P = 0.051). Among 29 positive cases, the average EBV viral load was (3.1 x 105) copy/g +/- (0.5 x 105) copy/g. No significant difference was observed among different sex and age groups for EBV viral load.ConclusionHerein, EBV genome detection could support the colonization of EBV in the tonsils, which may have a direct or indirect association with the pathogenesis of tonsillar hypertrophy.