title: Detection and quantification of EBV, HHV-6 and CMV DNA in the gastrointestinal tract of HIV-positive patients.
abstract: Human herpes viruses (HHVs) have been frequently detected in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and may contribute to the development of gastric cancer. In the present study, the detection rate and viral load of Epstein Barr virus (EBV), HHV-6 and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) were assessed in the GI tract of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients and of uninfected patients. The analysis revealed a significantly higher detection rate of EBV and HHV-6 in HIV-infected individuals than in uninfected subjects (88.5 vs 63%; p = 0.03). Moreover, EBV DNA load was significantly higher in the stomach of HIV patients than in controls. These data suggest that the HIV infection status may increase the persistence of these viruses in the GI compartment. Intriguingly, CMV DNA was undetectable in all biopsy specimens analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale dell'Università 31, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Falasca
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maida
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verzaro
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mezzaroma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fantauzzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castilletti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Turriziani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000821:virology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral