Molecular Detection of Herpes Simplex and Papilloma Viruses in Bladder Tumors Using PCR

Abdul Hussein, Ahmed K.; Al-Khayoon, Ahmed T.; Ali, Ahmed A.; Sahib, Ahmed A.

doi:10.21608/ejmm.2025.407908.1802

Molecular Detection of Herpes Simplex and Papilloma Viruses in Bladder Tumors Using PCR

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

¹ Department of Chemistry, College of Education, University of Sumer, Al-Refaee, Thi-Qar, Iraq

² Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Alsharq University of Basrah, Iraq

10.21608/ejmm.2025.407908.1802

Abstract

Background: Bladder cancer is a prevalent malignancy with multifactorial etiology, where infectious agents such as Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) have been implicated. Objective: The study aims to the role of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA in bladder tumor samples using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Methodology; The current study is retrospective study, conducted at Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital in Nasiriyah, Iraq 2020. It included 40 Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded bladder tumor samples diagnosed as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Histopathological evaluation was performed using the Richardson classification system ¹¹. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved from patient records. DNA extraction was done following deparaffinization of tissue sections. PCR amplification was used to detect Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA, targeting the U and L1 genes, respectively, using specific primers for each virus. Result: HPV infection rate was 37.5%, equally distributed across age groups. HPV positivity was higher in high-grade tumors (45.5%) compared to low-grade (27.8%), but without statistical significance. No herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA was detected in any samples. PCR analysis showed HPV DNA in 39.47% of samples from male patients, indicating a significant association between gender and infection (P < 0.05). Male patients had a 65.2% HPV positivity rate, while no cases were found in females. Conclusions: HPV infection was more prevalent in high-grade bladder tumors and exclusively in males, suggesting a potential role in tumor progression. This may be due to hormonal or immunological differences influencing viral persistence and oncogenic transformation.

Keywords