DETECTION OF EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS IN ORAL PAPILLOMA

Fifty-one cases of malignant and non-malignant oral diseases were inve stigated for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV DNA was detected by polymer ase chain reaction analysis in 2 of 4 papillomas, but not in other tis sues including 36 squamous cell carcinomas and 4 leukoplakias. The cop y numbers of EBV DNA in the two positive samples mere estimated to be 120 and 36 per cell, respectively. Intense EBV DNA signals were detect ed on papilloma cells by in situ hybridization. DNAs for the benign an d malignant types of human papilloma virus were not detected in papill oma tissues. The present results suggest that EBV is a causative agent of oral papilloma.