Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of PCR on aqueous humour for detection and genotyping of Epstein Bar Virus in patients with viral retinitis.
Methods: 70 AH samples were collected from 20 HIV positive patients with clinically suspected viral retinitis and 25 patients with serpignous choroiditis and 25 AH from patients undergoing cataract surgery. PCR was performed to screen HHV-1 to HHV-5, Mtb and Toxoplasma gondii. Genotype prevalence was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis targetig EBV.
Results: EBV was detected in 17 (37.7%) samples. Genotyping to subtype EBV, revealed the circulation of only one subtype (Type 1). PCR results for other infective agents were negative except for the presence of CMV in 5 (11.1%) AH.
Conclusion: The application of PCR to detect genotypes can be used as an epidemiological tool for clinical management. To our knowledge this is the first report on genotyping of EBV performed on intra ocular samples.
Keywords: Detection; Epstein-Barr virus; PCR; genotyping; viral retinitis.