In Situ Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA and Viral Gene Products

Primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is followed by a life-long persistence of the virus in the B-cell compartment of the host (1 ,2 ). Small numbers of EBV-carrying B cells have been identified in the peripheral blood as well as in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues of chronic virus carriers (3 ,4 ). This is relevant to the study of human tumors. The detection of EBV DNA in a tumor by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) usually does not permit conclusions as to whether this is due to the presence of the virus in the tumor cell population or to the presence of EBV-carrying “by-stander” B cells in the tissue. For a meaningful analysis of EBV infection, it is therefore necessary in many instances to establish the cellular location of the virus using morphology-based techniques.