Correlates of human herpes virus-8 and herpes simplex virus type 2 infections in Northern Cameroon.
The association between sexual activity and human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) infection has been established, but the mode of acquisition is still unclear. Blood samples from 238 individuals from Northern Cameroon were tested to evaluate the incidence of herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Treponema pallidum, and HHV-8 infections and to identify their possible association. The presence of HSV-2 antibodies was associated significantly with gender, age, and HIV, HHV-8 antilatent, and T. pallidum antibodies, but not with HHV-8 antilytic antibodies. In a multivariate model older age, female gender, seropositivity for HIV, for HHV-8 latent antigens and for T. pallidum were associated independently with seropositivity for HSV-2. HSV-2-seropositive individuals had significantly higher titers of antibodies to both lytic (P = 0.019) and latent (P = 0.021) HHV-8 antigens. These results suggest that HSV-2 infection can contribute to sexual transmission of HHV-8 infection.
Volpi
A
A
Department of Public Health, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. volpi@uniroma2.it
Sarmati
L
L
Suligoi
B
B
Montano
M
M
Rezza
G
G
Andreoni
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral