Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to screen for the presence of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) among Sudanese patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: In this study, 150 tissue samples that were previously diagnosed as having NPC were screened for the presence of EBV using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR was performed to amplify two viral genes; EBV nuclear antigen-4 (EBNA-4) and latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1). RESULTS: EBV genes were detected in 92/150 (61.3%) tissue samples. Of the 92 infected samples, 58/92 (63%) were found among males and 34/92 (37%) were among females. CONCLUSION: EBV is prevalent in the Sudan and responsible of the vast majority of cases of NPC.