A second site for Epstein-Barr virus shedding: the uterine cervix

Lancet. 1986 Nov 15;2(8516):1122-4. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)90531-3.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of the human uterine cervix was detected in 5 out of 28 women by means of culture and cytohybridization analysis of cervical secretions. Cervical samples from 2 of 14 women contained epithelial cells with EBV DNA, and filtered cervical washings from 4 women contained infectious EBV. The discovery of EBV shedding in its cell-free infectious form from the uterine cervix raises the possibility of venereal transmission, neonatal infection, and EBV involvement in cervical pathology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cervix Uteri / microbiology*
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / microbiology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / microbiology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral