High seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in HIV-1-infected pregnant women of Southeastern Italy: association with injection drug use and hepatitis C virus infection.
The seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in a group of HIV-1-infected pregnant women and in mother-child pairs from Southeastern Italy (Apulia) was determined. Blood was collected from 49 HIV-1-infected women during pregnancy or at delivery as well as from their children. Samples were analysed for the presence of antibodies to the latency-associated nuclear antigen and a structural antigen encoded by open reading frame 65. The presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) was also determined. Nineteen women (38.7%) were found to be positive for HHV-8 antibodies to at least one of the two antigens, and 21 (42.9%) for HCV antibodies. HHV-8 antibodies were more common in injecting drug users (56.3%) than in women infected through heterosexual intercourse (30.3%). HCV antibodies were significantly more prevalent in HHV-8-seropositive (66.7%) than HHV- 8-seronegative (29%) women. Thirteen children born to HIV-1/HHV-8 co-infected women were HHV-8-seroreactive, with a variable pattern of reactivity to the analysed antigens. Follow-up of children showed a prolonged persistence of antibodies, in two cases for more than 12 months. This study has provided serological evidence for a high rate of HHV-8 infection in HIV-1-infected women in the Apulia region, and has identified a possible association between HHV-8 infection, past use of injection drugs and HCV infection. Parenteral transmission may, therefore, be a mode of virus spread.
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Josè Ramòn
JR
Fiore
Anna
A
Volpe
Maria Alessandra
MA
Tosatti
Lucia
L
De Valentin
Anna
A
Favia
Maria
M
Chironna
Andrea
A
Lisco
Antonella
A
Vimercati
Gioacchino
G
Angarano
Luigi
L
Chieco-Bianchi
Maria Luisa
ML
Calabrò
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; C109540:latency-associated nuclear antigen