Coinfection by multiple strains of Epstein-Barr virus in infectious mononucleosis in immunocompetent patients.
OBJECTIVE
A molecular study of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced infectious mononucleosis (IM) was performed. The presence of a 30-bp deletion on the latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) oncogene from EBV in Caucasian IM patients was evaluated.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 27 IM patients and 18 adenoids, 28 tonsils and 16 EBV-related reactive lymphadenitis specimens were used as controls. DNA isolation, EBV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and LMP-1 oncogene PCR analysis were performed.


RESULTS
The 30-bp deletion on LMP-1 was identified in 29.6% of IM patients, but was always seen in conjunction with full-length LMP-1. Although the LMP-1-deleted strain seemed to be more prevalent in IM (29.6%) and EBV-related reactive lymphadenitis (37.5%,) than in adenoid (0%) or tonsil specimens (21.4%), these differences were not significant (p > 0.05; chi2). Thus, a 30-bp deletion on LMP-1 was present in almost a third of Caucasian IM patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of coinfections in IM patients confirms that primary infection by more than one EBV strain is possible.
Plaza
Guillermo
G
Otolaryngology Department, Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Fundación Hospital Alcorcón, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain. gplaza@fhalcorcon.es
Santón
Almundena
A
Bellas
Carment
C
D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000821:virology*; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins