Genital Epstein-Barr virus infection

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has two target tissues in vivo: the B-lymphocytes, where the infection is largely non-productive, and stratified squamous epithelia, in which virus replication may occur. The ability of EBV to infect epithelial cells is illustrated by the regular finding of viral genomes and gene products in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal cancer and in oral hairy leukoplakia. After the primary infection, the virus is shed intermittently in the saliva, and data also support an excretion of virus from the genital tract. EBV DNA has been demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction in cell samples from the uterine cervix, vulval and penile skin and mucosa and from the anal mucosa. Whether this virus is transported to the mucosa/skin by infected B-lymphocytes or reflects a reproductive genital EBV infection remains to be clarified. EBV is transmitted mostly via saliva but a possible mode of transmission may also be by the sexual route. Genital ulcers in connection with infectious mononucleosis have been described. The oncogenic potential of EBV in epithelial cells and its role as a co-factor with human papilloma virus in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer is under investigation.