Detection of Herpes simplex virus, Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in Ulcerative Colitis patients by PCR method

ABSTRACT

Ulcerative Colitis [UC] is one type of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Herpes viruses have been suggested as possible etiological agents of UC and Crohn's disease [CD]. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Herpes Simplex virus [HSV], Cytomegalovirus [CMV] and Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] in patients with UC in comparison with healthy subjects by using PCR technique. In this analytical case-control study, five patients with UC and thirty healthy patients as controls were selected. Sampling was performed by endoscopic biopsy operation. Biopsy specimens were frozen under sterile conditions at -20 degreeC until analysis. After DNA extraction, analysis of PCR to detect HSV, CMV and EBV DNA in tissue samples was performed. Statistical analysis was performed with the ?[2] test. We observed HSV DNA in 80% of UC samples [4 of 5] and 10% from the normal control group [3 of 30]. CMV DNA was found in 80% of UC samples [4 of 5] and 30% from the normal control group [9 of 30]. Also, EBV DNA was found in 60% of UC samples [3 of 5] and 36.7% from the normal control group [11 of 30]. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between the prevalence of HSV and CMV and the incidence of UC compared with the control group. The results of the present study has shown UC patients have a predisposition to HSV and CMV infections as compared to healthy individuals. Also, the results demonstrate a lack of direct molecular evidence to support an association between HSV and CMV with UC