[Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in central region of Tunisia].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of EBV in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas occuring in non-immunocopromised patients in Tunisia through a series of 126 cases. EBV was investigated by EBER oligonucleotide in situ hybridization (ISH) and LMP1-immunohistochemistry. Serological study of EBV has been performed before therapy in 28 patients. EBV was detected in tumor cells by ISH in 28/126 (22.2%) cases. Variable proportions of tumor cells were positive. LMP1 was identified in only 8 cases. EBV was more frequently observed in T-cell lymphomas (9/24 patients; 37.5%) than in B-cell lymphomas (19/102 patients; 18.6%) (p=0.04). There was a strong relationship between EBV and small intestine lymphomas (6/8 patients; 75%) and T/NK nasal type lymphomas (3/3 patients; 100%). EBV serological reactivation was noted in 7/13 patients in clinical stages III/IV and in only 1/10 patients in stages I/II (p=0.03). In conclusion, the prevalence of EBV in Tunisian non-Hodgkin's lymphomas is low but variable depending on the histological type and anatomical location with a predilection for small intestine and nasal lymphomas.