Genotypic Characterization of Epstein Barr Virus in Blood of Patients with Suspected Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Ghana
Richmond Ayee,
Maame Ekua Oforiwaa Ofori,
Emmanuel Ayitey Tagoe,
Sylvester Languon,
Kafui Searyoh,
Louis Armooh,
Estella Bilson-Amoah,
Kenneth Baidoo,
Emmanuel Kitcher,
Edward Wright,
Osbourne Quaye
Affiliations
Richmond Ayee
West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra 00233, Ghana
Maame Ekua Oforiwaa Ofori
West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra 00233, Ghana
Emmanuel Ayitey Tagoe
West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra 00233, Ghana
Sylvester Languon
West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra 00233, Ghana
Kafui Searyoh
Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra 00233, Ghana
Louis Armooh
Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra 00233, Ghana
Estella Bilson-Amoah
Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra 00233, Ghana
Kenneth Baidoo
Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra 00233, Ghana
Emmanuel Kitcher
Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra 00233, Ghana
Edward Wright
School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
Osbourne Quaye
West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra 00233, Ghana
Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is associated with Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection. However different viral strains have been implicated in NPC worldwide. This study aimed to detect and characterize EBV in patients diagnosed with NPC in Ghana. A total of 55 patients diagnosed with NPC by CT scan and endoscopy were age-matched with 53 controls without a known oncological disease. Venous blood was collected from the study participants and DNA extracted from the blood samples. Detection of EBV and genotyping were done by amplifying Epstein Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) and Epstein Barr nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA-2), respectively, using specific primers. Viral load in patients and controls was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. EBV positivity in controls (92%) was significantly greater than that of NPC patients (67%) (χ2 = 19.17, p p = 0.1834). The predominant EBV genotypes in patients and controls were genotype 2 (52%) and genotype 1 (62%), respectively. Median EBV load was significantly higher in NPC patients than the control group (p < 0.01). In summary, prevalence of EBV genotype 2 infection was higher in NPC patients than the control group. Assessment of EBV load may be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of NPC.
