DNA-DNA Dot Hybridization to Detect Epstein-Barr Virus in Throat Washings

Abstract

To compare the abilities of the nucleic acid dot hybridization assay and the cord blood lymphocyte transformation assay to detect Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), we examined throat washings from healthy control subjects (nine EBV-seronegative and 51 EBV-seropositive), patients with acute infectious mononucleosis, and renal transplant recipients. The dot hybridization assay detected EBV excretion in four (8%) of the EBV-seropositive controls; three of these four were also positive by the lymphocyte transformation assay. Throat washings from seven (87.5%) of eight patients with acute infectious mononucleosis were positive by both assays. EBV was present in throat washings from 13 (50%) of 26 renal transplant recipients. For specimens stored at -70 C for less than four months, the dot hybridization assay had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 98% when compared with the lymphocyte transformation assay. The dot hybridization assay is a rapid, sensitive, and specific test that can be performed on readily available clinical specimens.

Epstein-Barr Virus in Oropharyngeal and Nasopharyngeal Secretions of Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Control Subjects

“…Fil trates of all TW and NS did not contain suffi cient EBV DNA to be detected by our proce dure. Our procedure is capable of detecting EBV DNA in 200 but not in 100 Raji cells which is similar to those reported by others [12,19,20], Other authors [12,[19][20][21][22] have reported a detectable quantity of EBV DNA in desqua mated oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal epitelium cells of healthy EBV-seropositive sub jects, patients with infectious mononucleosis, persons infected by the human immunodefi ciency virus, and NPC patients, but detectable quantities of EBV DNA in filtrates of TW have so far been reported for homograft recipients on immunosuppressive regimens [12]. Our in ability to detect EBVbydot DNA-DNAhybridization in filtered TW from infectious mono nucleosis patients is consistent with an earlier finding [19] and underscores the insensitivity of this assay relative to the transformation assay.…”

Epstein-Barr Virus-Related Persistent Erythema Multiforme in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

“…May[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Acyclovir,2 g Jun 1-15 Acyclovir, 2 g Jun 16-30 Acyclovir, 1 g Jul 1-15 Acyclovir, 2 g Jul 16-31Acyclovir, 2 g Aug[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Acyclovir, 2 g Aug[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Acyclovir, 1 g Sep[1][2][3][4][5]<...>…”

Virologic diagnosis, viral monitoring, and treatment of epstein-barr virus infectious mononucleosis

“…Certain sequences, such as the large internal repeat (IR 1 ), have theoretical advantages for increased sensitivity because of the presence of multiple copies in each EBV genome. The sensitivity and specificity may vary for each nucleic acid probe, and therefore, the limits must be established experimentally using appropriate controls [14]. Dot blotting uses total intracellular DNA and may be semiquantitated using serial dilutions.…”