Molecular Detection of Helicobacter pylori and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) among Sudanese Patients with Gastritis Attending Police Hospital – Khartoum

Abstract

Gastritis is one of the commonest problems among different societies. It may occur as a short episode or for a long duration and its Common causes include infection with Helicobacter pylori and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as human herpes-virus 4, is one of the most common human viruses and found all over the world. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted during the period of January 2019 to February 2020 to investigate the presence of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies from gastritis patients in Khartoum State. A total of 100 subjects (n=100) were included in this study with ages ranged from 10-89 years with an average mean of 42.21±16.8 S.D. From the study participants, gastric biopsy samples were collected and tested for EBV and H. pylori DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of the 100 patients who took part in the study, 17 (17%) were positive for EBV DNA, while 34 (34%) were positive for H. pylori DNA. EBV DNA was detected in 15 (88.2%) male patients, and 2 (11.8%) female patients, and there was a significant association between EBV infection and gender (P=0.012). Concerning age, EBV infection showed that the highest positivity in 6 (6%) patients in the age group 20- 29 years, and there was no significant association between EBV infection and age (P=0.961). The H. pylori DNA was found in 20 (58.8%) male patients, and 14 (41.2%) female patients, and no significant association between H. pylori infection and gender (P=0.749). H. pylori infection were 10 (10%) in patients with the age group 20- 29 years and there was no significant association between H. pylori infection and age (P=0.537). This study showed that; 7 (7%) of gastric biopsies were positive for both EBV and H. pylori DNA and there was no significant association between EBV infection and H. pylori infection (P=0.493). This study concluded that; the infection with EBV is few among gastritis patients, and more common in males than females. Also, the H. pylori infection is more common than EBV among the gastritis patients and no association was found between gender and H. pylori infection. No association was found between EBV and H. pylori infection in this study. So, this study recommended to investigate H. pylori and EBV in gastritis patients as a routine test.