EBV genome was significantly detected in clinically normal oral mucosa of renal transplant and HIV+ patients. A significant gender association was found among HIV+, suggesting that oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) is more likely to occur in HIV+ men than women.

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA and antigens in oral mucosa of renal transplant patients without clinical evidence of oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL).The use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in oral mucosa in the absence of specific lesions gives rise to the problem of identifying the real viral replication sites. To verify whether the detection of EBV is due to salivary contamination or its true replicative capacity in oral mucosa, saliva samples and exfoliated cells from four different oral mucosa sites were taken from 40 renal transplant patients and 20 normal subjects for examination by PCR using two pairs of primers specific for the BamHI-L and BamHI-K genomic regions. EBV-specific sequences were detected in one or more of the oral mucosa samples from 29 transplant patients (72.5%) and six healthy controls (30%), and in the saliva samples of 16 transplant patients (40%) and three healthy controls (15%). A total of 89 oral mucosa smears from 29 transplant patients, and 13 from healthy subjects, were EBV-positive. The positive samples were also investigated by means of in situ hybridization in order to confirm the intracellular presence of the viral genome, and by means of immunofluo-Key words: Epstein-Barr virus; oral mucosa; rescence testing with monoclonal antibodies to assess the possible expression of polymerase chain reaction (PCR); renal viral antigens. Hybridization with the EBV-specific probe was observed in 40/ transplant patients 89 and 2/13 samples, respectively. Latent antigens (with or without lytic antigens) Pietro Ammatuna, Policlinico ''P. Giaccone'', were detected in only 23 of the 40 samples (collected from eight different Dipartimento di Igiene e Microbiologia, Via transplant patients) that were positive by in situ hybridization. Our data show del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italythat EBV is more frequently present in the oral mucosa of immunodeficient patients (where it can efficiently replicate) than in normal subjects.

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was sought in cervical scrapings from 110 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women to evaluate the role of these viruses as risk factors for squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. By using PCR, presence of HPV-DNA and EBV-DNA was found in 60.9% (67/110) and in 10% (11/110) of clinical samples, respectively. Identification of oncogenic group of HPV by hybrid capture (HC II, Murex-Digene) indicated the presence of low-risk HPV in 13 (19.4%) patients, high-risk HPV in 28 (41.8%), and both types of HPV in 26 (38.8%) patients. Squamous intraepithelial lesions were present in 59 cases, being low-grade (n = 52) and high-grade (n = 7) lesions. HPV was detected in 84.7% of patients with lesions, in association with low-grade (43/52) and high-grade lesions (7/7), and in 33% of patients without lesions. EBV-DNA was detected in 8 patients with low-grade lesions and in 3 patients without lesions. Concurrent genital HPV and EBV infection was observed in 9 cases. HPV was associated with detection of squamous intraepithelial lesions [OR = 3.55; 95% CI = (1.96; 6.48)]. No significant association was found between presence of EBV and detection of lesions, both in case of EBV infection alone [OR = 1.4; 95% CI = (0. 93; 2.12)] and in case of HPV/EBV combined infection [OR = 0.87; 95%CI = (0.54; 1.42)]. These data confirm the significant role of HPV as risk factor for squamous intraepithelial lesions and suggest that EBV could not be involved in the pathogenesis of the lesions that arise in the cervix of HIV-positive women.

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was sought in cervical scrapings from 110 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women to evaluate the role of these viruses as risk factors for squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. By using PCR, presence of HPV-DNA and EBV-DNA was found in 60.9% (67/110) and in 10% (11/110) of clinical samples, respectively. Identification of oncogenic group of HPV by hybrid capture (HC II, Murex-Digene) indicated the presence of lowrisk HPV in 13 (19.4%) patients, high-risk HPV in 28 (41.8%), and both types of HPV in 26 (38.8%) patients. Squamous intraepithelial lesions were present in 59 cases, being low-grade (n = 52) and high-grade (n = 7) lesions. HPV was detected in 84.7% of patients with lesions, in association with low-grade (43/52) and high-grade lesions (7/7), and in 33% of patients without lesions. EBV-DNA was detected in 8 patients with lowgrade lesions and in 3 patients without lesions. Concurrent genital HPV and EBV infection was observed in 9 cases. HPV was associated with detection of squamous intraepithelial lesions [OR = 3.55; 95% CI = (1.96; 6.48)]. No significant association was found between presence of EBV and detection of lesions, both in case of EBV infection alone [OR = 1.4; 95% CI = (0.93; 2.12)] and in case of HPV/EBV combined infection [OR = 0.87; 95%CI = (0.54; 1.42)]. These data confirm the significant role of HPV as risk factor for squamous intraepithelial lesions and suggest that EBV could not be involved in the pathogenesis of the lesions that arise in the cervix of HIV-positive women.

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