Evidence for horizontal and not vertical transmission of human herpesvirus 8 in children born to human immunodeficiency virus-infected mothers.
A survey of antibody responses to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) was undertaken to examine the mode of transmission of this virus to children born to mothers with HIV. Methods. Serum samples from a cohort of 92 mother-infant pairs and a cross-sectional cohort of 100 children (median age, 4 years) were tested. In the cohort of mother-infant pairs, 14 infants were HIV-infected, 72 were not and the HIV status was unknown for 6. In the cohort of children 70 were HIV-infected and 30 were vertically exposed but uninfected. Serologic responses to two HHV-8 antigens, latency-associated nuclear antigen and the structural antigen encoded by open reading frame 65 were detected by immunofluorescent antibody test and enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results were confirmed by Western blot. Results. All HHV-8-seropositive mothers were African (17 of 92, 18.5%). Six of their infants were HHV-8-seronegative and 11 had at least 1 HHV-8-seropositive sample. One of the 11 infants tested only at birth had a lower antibody titer than the mother; the remaining 10 infants had decreasing titers up to 7 months of age and 6 became seronegative. No infants born to HHV-8-seronegative mothers had antibodies to the virus. The seroprevalence to HHV-8 was 6% in the cohort of children. All had African mothers and their median age was greater than that of the cohort (8.4 vs. 4.0 years). Five were coinfected with HIV. Conclusions. HHV-8 was not vertically transmitted by any of the HIV-coinfected mothers. Acquisition of antibody to HHV-8 occurred in older children, implying a horizontal route of transmission.
Lyall
E G
EG
Department of Paediatrics, Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital Trust, London, UK.
Patton
G S
GS
Sheldon
J
J
Stainsby
C
C
Mullen
J
J
O'Shea
S
S
Smith
N A
NA
De Ruiter
A
A
McClure
M O
MO
Schulz
T F
TF
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral