title: Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus and HIV-1 seroprevalences in prostitutes in Djibouti.
abstract: Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) is linked causally to Kaposi's sarcoma. Epidemiological studies have shown that KSHV transmission can occur during sex among homosexual men, but heterosexual transmission seems to be very rare in KSHV low prevalence countries. A seroepidemiological study was conducted to determine whether KSHV is transmitted sexually between heterosexuals in an endemic country. Sera from 282 subjects of African origin living in Djibouti were tested for antibodies to KSHV and HIV-1. Among the 282 individuals, 43 were female prostitutes working in the streets (group 1), 123 were female prostitutes working in luxury bars (group 2), 41 were non-prostitute females (group 3), and 75 were non-prostitute males (group 4). KSHV seroprevalence was 26, 20, 17, and 36% in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The seroprevalence of KSHV is not different between street or bar prostitutes and non-prostitute females (OR = 1.67; P = 0.34 and OR = 1.18; P = 0.73). These results suggest that in this endemic country commercial sex work does not seem to be a risk factor for KSHV infection and provides evidence against heterosexual transmission of KSHV in the female population studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology-CERVI, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Geneviève
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Marcelin
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grandadam
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Flandre
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicand
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milliancourt
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Koeck
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Philippon
authors.forename: Remy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teyssou
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Agut
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dupin
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Calvez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015730:Djibouti / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011477:Sex Work
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral