Molecular epidemiology and clinical patterns of Epstein-Barr virus infection in Southwestern Saudi Arabia: a 2020-2023 retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a globally prevalent human herpesvirus, is a known cause of infectious mononucleosis (IM) and various cancers. Despite its significant public health impact, molecular epidemiological data on EBV in Saudi Arabia, especially its southwestern region, are scarce. This study aims to characterize EBV epidemiology and clinical correlations using reference laboratory data from Southwestern Saudi Arabia collected between 2020 and 2023, while identifying associated demographic and clinical factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed EBV cases, and Ethical Approval was obtained. Descriptive statistics, χ [2] tests, and multivariate regression were employed to analyze demographic and clinical data from 133 EBV-positive patients. These analyses aimed to identify associations with age, gender, nationality, year of diagnosis, and clinical presentation, considering results statistically significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The overall EBV prevalence was 17.5% (133/760). Temporal analysis indicated an increase in cases from 2020 to 2022, followed by a remarkable decrease in 2023 (13.5%, p = 0.01), likely attributable to post-COVID-19 shifts in healthcare practices. Furthermore, seasonal patterns displayed a bimodal distribution, peaking in the first (Q1) and third (Q3) quarters. Saudi nationals comprised n = 103 (77.4%) of positive cases with the highest burden among children, with n = 101 (76%) of cases occurring in children under 12 years (toddlers 1-5 years: n = 57, 42.9%; children 6-12 years: n = 44, 33.1%). Infectious diseases (n = 38, 28.6%) and hematological disorders (n = 27, 20.3%) were the most common clinical associations. A correlation was found between clinical diagnosis and both gender (p = 0.04) and age group (p = 0.001). Finally, age (β = -0.411, p = 0.029) and test date (β = -0.187, p = 0.03) were significant negative predictors of EBV infection. CONCLUSION: This study establishes the first molecular-based epidemiological analysis of EBV infection in Southwestern Saudi Arabia, revealing distinct demographic and clinical patterns, with predominant pediatric involvement and strong age-related associations. The observed temporal fluctuations, including pandemic-related changes, emphasize the importance of continuous surveillance. These findings indicate the importance of pediatric-focused monitoring, region-specific diagnostic protocols, and further research into ethnic disparities, coinfections, and long-term clinical outcomes. The key limitations of this study include its retrospective design, the absence of systematic evaluation of coinfections (including COVID-19), and the use of data from a single region. To understand the burden of this virus at the national level, further national studies are required.