title: The seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 infection in the Thai population.
abstract: The seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection in the Thai population was investigated. Sera from 1,018 human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-negative and 436 HIV-1-positive individuals were tested for antibodies to latent and lytic HHV-8 antigens by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using mixed recombinant orf HHV-8 proteins. The positive sera were further tested with recombinant HHV-8 protein expressed 293T cells by IFA. The seroprevalence of HHV-8 infection was determined by the concordant reactivity of sera among antibody testing assays. The results showed a low rate of HHV-8 seropositivity in both HIV-1-negative healthy individuals (0.6%) and HIV-1-infected patients (0.7%). These results are consistent with the fact that a small number of patients with AIDS-associated KS have been reported in Thailand and that HHV-8 is an uncommon pathogen in this country. Interestingly, we found that sera from the general population living in the north, but not other regions of Thailand, had antibodies to HHV-8.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: Panasda Isarangkura Na
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Ayuthaya
authors.forename: Harutaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katano
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inagi
authors.forename: Wattana
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Auwanit
authors.forename: Tetsutaro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sata
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurata
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamanishi
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral