Frequent detection of Epstein-Barr Virus and cytomegalovirus but not JC virus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid samples from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in northern Thailand.

Applying nested-PCRs, we frequently detected DNA of Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus but not JC virus in cerebrospinal fluid samples from 140 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with central nervous system symptoms in northern Thailand. Despite the low incidence of primary central nervous system lymphoma or cytomegalovirus encephalitis among Thai AIDS patients, Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus infections in the central nervous system are common.