Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42426668›Full record

SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2026

Burden of Epstein-Barr virus in gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and Burkitt lymphoma in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Saleamlak Sebsibe, Sisay Desale, Sisay Kassa, Yabsira Asmare, Yonas Erkihun, Zewudu Mulatie, Afewerk Habtamu, Bruktawit Eshetu, Emiyamrew Getnet, Endashaw Belayhun and 6 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Saleamlak SebsibeDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia. saleamlaksebsibe43@gmail.com.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8161-9770
Sisay DesaleDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Sisay KassaALKAN Health Science Business and Technology College, Dessie Campus, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Yabsira AsmareDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Yonas ErkihunDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Zewudu MulatieDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Afewerk HabtamuDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Bruktawit EshetuDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Emiyamrew GetnetDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Endashaw BelayhunDepartment Neonatal Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Kalu TsegayeDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Mahider Shimelis FeyisaAsrat Weldeyes Health Science Campus, School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Marye Wondimnew TeferaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Mikiyas Shemelis AchameDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Rahel Birhanu ArageDepartment of Midwifery, Asrat Weldeyes Health Science Campus, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Mihret TilahunDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), gastric cancer (GC), and Burkitt lymphoma (BL), but its burden across Africa remains poorly characterized due to fragmented evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence of EBV in NPC, GC, and BL across Africa, stratified by cancer type, region, and detection method.

methodsPubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and African Journals Online were searched for studies published between January 2000 and March 2025 reporting EBV prevalence in histologically confirmed NPC, GC, or BL in African populations. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Pooled prevalence was estimated separately for each cancer type using a random-effects model (DerSimonian-Laird), with subgroup analyses by region and detection method. Publication bias was assessed using Begg's and Egger's tests.

resultsTwenty studies comprising 2,763 participants from 11 African countries were included. Pooled EBV prevalence was highest in BL 86.8% (95% CI: 82.2, 91.5) followed by, NPC 66.0% (95% CI: 65.8, 66.2), and lowest in GC 35.4% (95% CI: 19.9, 50.9), with substantial heterogeneity throughout (I² >95%, p < 0.001). Prevalence of NPC was highest in East Africa 81.8% (95% CI: 81.4, 81.7) and lowest in North Africa 50.0% (95% CI: 49.9, 50.1). The subgroup analysis of NPC by detection method, EBER-ISH yielded the highest pooled prevalence 80.4% (95% CI: 67.0, 93.3), compared with DNA PCR 60.3% (95% CI: 36.8, 83.8). No significant publication bias was detected for any cancer type (all p > 0.05), and sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the pooled estimates.

conclusionsEBV was frequently detected in Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and gastric cancer among African populations included in this review. Prevalence estimates varied substantially according to cancer type, geographic region, and diagnostic method. The limited use of EBER-ISH, the current reference standard for confirming EBV involvement in tumor cells, represents an important evidence gap that should guide future research and diagnostic standardization efforts.

Indexed as

Burkitt LymphomaEpstein-Barr Virus InfectionsHerpesvirus 4, HumanNasopharyngeal CarcinomaNasopharyngeal NeoplasmsStomach NeoplasmsAfricaHumansPrevalenceAfricaBurkitt lymphomaEpstein-Barr virusGastric cancerMeta-analysisNasopharyngeal carcinomaPrevalence

Identifiers

PMID42426668
PMCPMC13640064

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.