Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2001 Nov;44(11):1171-1176.

Detection Rates of Epstein-Barr Virus from the Chronic Tonsillitis and Its Typing

• Choi YC
• Lee SK
• Kwon YS
• Kang JH
• Park YS
• Jeon EJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a DNA virus and a type of Herpes virus. Two different types of EBV exist based on the DNA sequence divergence of the EBV genome, and several differences exist between the two types. There are no reports about EBV detection rates and typings associated in chronic tonsillitis, despite the known fact that tonsil is one of the most common sites EBV resides. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of EBV infection in tonsils of children and adults as well as to compare the detection rates and the distribution of types of EBV in tonsillitis patients with normal controls.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Palatine tonsil tissues were obtained from seventy adults (20 normal controls and 50 chronic tonsillitis) and one hundred children. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), EBV genome was detected and typing was performed. We confirmed EBV by Southern blot hybridization and in situ hybridization.
RESULTS
The detection rates of EBV in chronic tonsillitis of adults were higher than those in children with idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy(ITH) and normal controls. The detection rates of type 1 EBV showed no differences among the four groups. The detection rates of type 2 EBV in ITH and chronic tonsillitis of adults and children were higher than those in the normal controls.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that tonsillitis is caused by EBV and that the type 2 EBV plays a more important role in tonsillitis.

Keyword

Epstein-Barr virus; Palatine tonsil; Typing

MeSH Terms

Adult
Base Sequence
Blotting, Southern
Child
DNA Viruses
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections
Genome
Herpesvirus 4, Human*
Humans
In Situ Hybridization
Palatine Tonsil*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prevalence
Tonsillitis*