The relationship of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), type I human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I), and parovirus B19 to histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis was studied prospectively in 10 Taiwanese patients using materials obtained by fine-needle aspiration and lymh node biopsy. The presence of EBV was detected by in situ hybridization foe EBV-encoced RNA expression. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect virus-encoded protein for EBV and parovirus B19. DNA in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction were performed to determine the existence of HTLV-I provirus. Expressions of EBV-encoded RNA and Fas ligand were detected in all cases. Expression of EBV-encoded protein was identified in only 1 case. Neither HTLV-I nor parovirus B19 was detected in any case.
