title: Prevalence and risk factors for human herpesvirus 8 infection in northern Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The modes of transmission of HHV-8 are still unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the distribution and transmission of HHV-8 infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serosurvey conducted in a Cameroon hospital among 292 persons, including children (5-10 years), adolescents (15-20 years), and adults (30-40 years). Antibodies against lytic and latent antigens to HHV-8 were detected by immunofluorescence assay; antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus viral antigens were detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HHV-8 antilytic antibodies remained stable and was 39.8% among children, 51.5% among adolescents, and 61.8% among adults. Epstein-Barr virus seroprevalence was high among children, and remained stable among adolescents and adults. A history of sexually transmitted diseases was an independent determinant of HHV-8 infection (adjusted odds ratio 2.47; 95% CI 1.09-4.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of HHV-8 infection among children indicates nonsexual modes of transmission in Cameroon, with sexual transmission occurring among adolescents and adults.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. g.rezza@iss.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Tchangmena
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bugarini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bakary
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glikoutou
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarmati
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pezzotti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ensoli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral