Prevalence and transmission of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus 8) in Ugandan children and adolescents.
We studied the seroprevalence and transmission of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV8), among 215 Ugandan children, adolescents and young adults. We measured antibodies to a latent nuclear antigen (LANA) and a lytic cycle protein encoded by open reading frame (orf) 65. Infection with KSHV/HHV8 occurred during early childhood and reached adult levels (approx. 50%) before the age of puberty. In children younger than 12 years of age, antibodies to LANA and the orf65 protein were independently associated with hepatitis B infection (p < 0.005). KSHV/HHV8 infection was not associated with antibodies to hepatitis A virus and hepatitis C virus, nor with the quality of the water supply, household size, previous blood transfusions, number of boy/girl friends or marital status. Antibodies to the orf65 protein, but not LANA, were weakly associated with a history of i.v. injections. Our results show that, in contrast to its sexual mode of transmission among homo/bisexual men and sexually transmitted diseases clinic attendees of Northern Europe and the US, transmission of KSHV in Uganda occurs largely before puberty. Among Ugandan children, KSHV transmission follows a horizontal pattern similar to other herpesviruses, in particular the related gamma herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus. Transmission of KSHV may be facilitated by living conditions that also promote infection with hepatitis B virus.
Division of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK.
S
S
Mayama
L E
LE
Cuevas
J
J
Sheldon
O H
OH
Omar
D H
DH
Smith
P
P
Okong
B
B
Silvel
C A
CA
Hart
T F
TF
Schulz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000097:blood
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins