title: Human herpesvirus 8: seroprevalence and correlates in prostitutes in Mombasa, Kenya.
abstract: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection is very prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, but the role of sexual transmission has not been well characterized. HHV-8 seroprevalence and correlates were evaluated in a cohort of female prostitutes in Mombasa, Kenya. Between February 1993 and January 2000, stored plasma samples taken from 736 women were tested, by whole-virus ELISA assay, for the presence of HHV-8 antibodies; of these 736 women, 633 were included in the analysis of correlates of HHV-8 infection; and, of these 633, 44.1% were seropositive for HHV-8 antibodies. In univariate analysis, age, years of education, years of prostitution, workplace, hormonal contraception, intrauterine-device use, alcohol consumption, syphilis, and gonorrhea were all significantly associated with the presence of HHV-8 antibodies. In a multivariate model, older age, fewer years of education, and 2 markers of high-risk sexual behavior-namely, alcohol consumption and gonorrhea-were each independently associated with HHV-8 seropositivity. These results suggest that heterosexual transmission may contribute to acquisition of HHV-8 infections in this African population of prostitutes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. llavreys@africaonline.co.ke
authors.forename: Ludo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lavreys
authors.forename: Bhavna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chohan
authors.forename: Rhoda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Barbra A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corey
authors.forename: Kishorchandra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mandaliya
authors.forename: Jeckoniah O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ndinya-Achola
authors.forename: Joan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kreiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011477:Sex Work; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003270:Contraceptive Agents