Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) association and latency profile in pediatric Burkitt's lymphoma: Experience of a single institution in Argentina

The aim of this study is to characterize EBV expression and latency pattern in pediatric Burkitt's lymphoma in a single institution in Argentina. EBV-encoded RNA or protein was analyzed in 27 patients. EBERs was expressed in 37% of patients (29% of immunocompetent and 100% of immunosuppressed patients). EBV-positive cases were observed exclusively in patients younger than 5 years old. EBV association with immunocompetent patients exhibits the sporadic pattern in region under study, while its presence in patients infected with HIV was higher than described previously. EBV latency I profile was present in most of the patients, except for two immunosuppressed patients who displayed LMP1 expression. J. Med. Virol. 86:845-850, 2014. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.