ABSTRACT

β-thalassemiais considered a serious inherited disordersand dangerous blood diseases so that the human body cannot produce hemoglobin naturally furthermore unable to perform its function naturally leading  to negative effects on the rest of the human body system. It is genetically transmitted from parents to offspring. Β-thalassemia involve two main kinds; alpha and beta β-thalassemia. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) belongs to herpes virus family, which is double stranded DNA, attacks human B-lymphocyte.Transmission of virus infection through the blood and body fluids infects many groups living at low social and economic levels. Multiple blood transfusions of β-β-thalassemia patients play critical role in Epstein-Bar virus spread. Blood samples were collected from 132 β-thalassemia patients who had been admitted to the β-thalassemia Center; undergone for treatment with blood transfusion. This patient’s age was  ranged between of 2-14 years old and composed of 76 males and 56 females. Samples were divided into two parts: firstly included the serum for detection of viral capsid proteins serologically and secondly involved blood samples in EDTA tubes for investigating of Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1(EBNA-1). The results of the present study showed that out of 134 samples, 56% were positive for anti-VCA(viral capsid antigen) antibodies while the control group gave 4% positive. There were no significant differences between males and females. The results showed that 34% was a positive result for EBV DNA while the control group gave 0%. There were significant differences between the patient and control group.

Keyword: EBV, thallssemia,EBNA1 ,VCA