Epstein-Barr virus and herpes simplex infection assessment in schizophrenia and bipolar patients compared to healthy subjects

Some viruses (including herpes viruses) due to neurotropic properties and latency are considered as a possible factor in many central nervous system disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The aim of the current study was to assess the level of IgG antibodies against Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in these diseases.
In this case-control study, a total of 92 serum samples including those of 46 patients admitted to Iran Psychiatric Hospital and 46 samples of the healthy personnel of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, as a control group, were assessed. The level of IgG antibodies against HSV 1 & 2 and EBV were tested using ELISA kits and the presence or absence of EBV genome (active infection) was examined by Real-time PCR. Finally, the obtained. Data were analyzed by means of IBM SPSS( V:22) software using Chi square test and T- test.
Prevalence of HSV 1 & 2 antibodies in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (case group.) and healthy individuals (control group.) were 80/4% and 82/6% ,respectively. The results showed no significant difference in HSV 1 & 2 antibody regarding P value (P= 0.79). Prevalence of EBV antibodies in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and healthy controls were 100% and 89/1%, respectively. The results showed significant differences between the two groups in terms of anti-EBV antibody titers with P value of 0.02. Besides, in order to detect the genome of EBV virus, Real-time PCR was u sedon 87 samples with positive EBV antibodies in which no EBV genome was detected.
The findings showed a significant association between EBV infection with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but there was no significant association between herpes simplex viruses with the mentioned diseases.