Sergio Domínguez-Arrevillaga, Laboratorio de Investigación, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad Ciudad Salud, Tapachula; Laboratorio de Diagnóstico Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas Campus IV, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Tapachula; Chiapas, México Jesús Sepúlveda-Delgado, Laboratorio de Investigación, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad Ciudad Salud, Tapachula, Chiapas Roberto A. Sánchez-González, Laboratorio de Investigación, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad Ciudad Salud, Tapachula; Licenciatura en Médico Cirujano, Centro Universitario Cultural del Soconusco, Tapachula; Chiapas, México Fabiola Y. Zamudio Castellanos, Laboratorio de Investigación, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad Ciudad Salud, Tapachula, Chiapas, México Flor E. Dávalos-Hernández, Servicio de Oncología Pediátrica, Hospital General Tapachula Dr. Manuel Velasco Suárez, Tapachula, Chiapas Mónica A. Malavar-Guadarrama, Servicio de Hematología Pediátrica, Hospital de Especialidades Pediátricas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Chiapas, México María G. Trujillo-Vizuet, Laboratorio de Investigación, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad Ciudad Salud, Tapachula; Licenciatura en Médico Cirujano, Centro Universitario Cultural del Soconusco, Tapachula; Chiapas, México

Background: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with the genesis of many human tumors. Of the 2 existing hypotheses regarding EBV infection, it is considered of the greatest importance to search in a timely manner for a relationship between EBV infection and the immunophenotype of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of EBV in children with leukemia from the state of Chiapas. Methods: 62 pediatric patients with a diagnosis of leukemia were included, informed consent was obtained within the ethical recommendations. EBV was detected by real-time PCR. Results: The prevalence of EBV was 1.61% (n=1) (0.00% -4.75%) with a 95% level of confidence. Conclusions: The EBV positive case was a male patient with a diagnosis of B-ALL from the municipality of Escuintla.

Keywords: Childhood leukemia. Epstein-Barr virus. Chiapas.