title: Human herpesvirus 8 seroprevalence among Tobago women and the role of sexual lifestyle behavior.
abstract: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection is present in 22.9% of Tobago men. However, seroprevalence and modes of transmission of HHV-8 among Tobago women are not known. HHV-8 seropositivity rates in Tobago women were examined and compared rates to Tobago men of similar ages. To assess possible modes of transmission, sexual behavior among Tobago women was examined to determine its association with HHV-8 seropositivity. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 213 Tobago women, ages 18-65 years, who participated in the Tobago Cervical and Oral Cancer Screening Study. HHV-8 seropositivity was determined by a monoclonal immunofluorescence assay. Age-specific rates were compared to those previously observed in men. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between HHV-8 seropositivity and sexual behavior among the women. HHV-8 seroprevalence among Tobago women was 14.1% (95% CI, 10-19%), with no significant difference with men of similar age (P-value = 0.741). Age <or=17 years at first sexual intercourse was found to have a minimal significant association with HHV-8 seropositivity (OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.09-5.78) in women. HHV-8 age-specific rates were similar between genders. Sexual activity may not be a major contributor to HHV-8 infection among Tobago women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. acm27@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Alicia C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Camille C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ragin
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weissfeld
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Victor W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Jaquie B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Clareann H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bunker
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taioli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002460:Cell Line; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral