Excretion of the Epstein-Barr Virus from the Genital Tract of Men

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in urethral discharges from 10 (48%) of 21 men attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. Five of the 10 subjects were concurrently excreting virus from their oropharynx. These findings indicate that EBV is shed from more than one mucosal site in seropositive adult males. Involvement of the genital tract raises the possibility of sexual transmission as well as EBV-induced genital tract pathology.