Molecular Detection of Epstein - Barr virus and Human Herpesvirus-6 in a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Acute Leukemia

Abstract

The pathogenic roles of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in acute leukemia have been of great interest. Patients with leukemia should be evaluated for viral infection, so they could be diagnosed for optimal therapy. In the current study, we aimed to determine the frequency of HHV-6 and EBV in a sample of Iraqi patients with acute leukemia in children and adults before chemotherapy. Fluorescent probe-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) method was used to quantify copies of HHV-6 and EBV DNA in (ALL), 20 cases with acute myeloid lymphoblastic leukemia (AML), and 40 cases of hematological stable control subjects. Also, the effects of viral infection on hematological parameters were investigated. Results show that (47.5%) 19 out of 40 of patients at diagnosis recorded positive to one of the investigated viruses. Thirteen (32.5%) and 12 (30%) out of 40 patients with acute leukemia had positive EBV and HHV-6 viremia, respectively, while none of control group shows positive result with highly significant differences between patients and control groups (P<0.001). The mean EBV and HHV-6 viral load was (7737.615±9106.838 copies/ml) and (94393.58±214528.9 copies/ml), respectively. In this study, there was no significant association between viral infection and hematological parameters (P>0.05). In conclusion, infections or co-infections with EBV and HHV-6 could be a factor in the development of acute leukemia but further studies are required to establish whether there is a real association.