EBV and oral risk habits among a group of male patients fibroepithelial polyp (FEP)in Sri Lanka

Epstein- Barr virus (EBV) is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis ("mono" or "glandular fever"). Xenobiotics such as tobacco smoke as cofactors which promote EBV replication promoting either the maintenance of viral genomes or lytic activation when the oncogenesis is progressed. This pilot study was aimed to find out EBV positivity and its association with risk habits among a group of male patients with Fibro Epithelial Polyps (FEP) in Sri Lanka. The sub sample consisted of 23 FEP male patients selected from 134 clinically diagnosed controls with benign oral mucosal lesions. Excisional biopsies of FEP s were stored as frozen tissues at -80 ⁰ C. DNA was extracted from frozen specimens using Gentra Puregene Tissue kit (Qiagen, Germany), solid tissue protocol. Subsequently, real time PCR was performed to detect EBV. A pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection on oral risk habits: betel quid chewing, tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption (current status, duration and types of all 3 habits). These data were entered and analysed using SPSS-21 Statistical Package. Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare groups ((cell counts <5). EBV positivity of the sample was 56.5%. There was a statistically significant association between EBV positivity and type of alcohol consumed. However, frequency of alcohol consumption was not associated with EBV status. Similarly betel chewing and smoking habits did not show associations with EBV status. EBV sero prevalence could be influenced by oral risk habits. Hence, further studies are recommended with large sample sizes.