title: Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in tonsils and adenoids of United Arab Emirates nationals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Given that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) often inhabits human tonsils and adenoids, it remains to be distinctively determined its prevalence and in which cell and microenvironment the virus is present.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the prevalence of EBV in the tonsils and adenoids of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals and to provide a basis for understanding the origin and biology of EBV-infected cells, the immunophenotype of all EBV-infected cells in 46 tonsils and 46 adenoids was determined by EBER in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to T cells (CD3), B cells (CD20), and epithelial cells (cytokeratin AE1/AE3), as well as immunostaining with antibodies to EBV latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  EBV was found in 43% of tonsillectomy specimens and 15% of adenoidectomy specimens. All EBV-infected cells were found to be B lymphocytes. About 90% of the infected B cells are found in the interfollicular regions of tonsils and adenoids and the remaining 10% are found within the follicles. There is no significant association between EBV infection, age (P=0.324) and gender (P=0.442).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBV is associated with tonsillar hypertrophy and is prevalent in 43% of our cases. EBV is only detected in B lymphocytes and we believe that B lymphocytes are sites of primary infection and latency. In situ hybridization is the gold standard for the detection of EBV in tissue.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. suhaila@uaeu.ac.ae
authors.forename: Suhail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Salam
authors.forename: Shamma Al
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dhaheri
authors.forename: Aktham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awwad
authors.forename: Sayel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daoud
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.forename: Mouied Al
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ashari
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000379:methods; D000234:Adenoids / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult